Justice Social Work Statistics: 2023-24

22nd January 2025

The Chief Statistician has released part 2 of the 2023-24 justice social work statistics. This includes information on justice social work services, as well as characteristics of the people involved.

The number of justice social work reports submitted (including supplementary reports) rose by five per cent between 2022-23 and 2023-24 to 27,900. This was around the same level as the years immediately prior to the pandemic.

There were 15,100 community payback orders (CPOs) commenced in 2023-24. This was three per cent up on 2022-23 but was the fourth lowest in the last decade. From 2014-15 to 2019-20, annual numbers ranged from 16,500 to 19,500.

In 2023-24, 68.0 per cent of CPOs were issued with an unpaid work requirement. Slightly more (68.2 per cent) were issued with a supervision requirement.

The average hours given as part of CPO unpaid work requirements increased from 127 hours in 2018-19 to 135 hours in 2023-24. The 2023-24 average was the highest in the last 10 years.

The successful completion rate for CPOs in 2023-24 was 71 per cent.

There were 280 drug treatment and testing orders (DTTOs) imposed in 2023-24. This was an eight per cent fall from 300 in 2022-23 and the second lowest in the last 10 years.

The successful completion rate for DTTOs in 2023-24 was 51 per cent.

See more at https://www.gov.scot/publications/justice-social-work-statistics-scotland-2023-24-part-2/