Prisoners: key points

 

  • Scotland has one of the highest imprisonment rates in Western Europe
  • The prison population is at an all time high
  • Prisoners are predominately young, male, white and from disadvantaged backgrounds
  • Three quarters of prisoners have an Alcohol Use Disorder
  • 73% tested positive for illegal drugs on admission to prison and 17% tested positive on liberation
  • 76% of prisoners smoke
  • 1 in 5 are estimated to be Hepatitis C positive
  • 4.5% have a 'severe or enduring' mental health problem

 

Section updates:

  • The last major update of this section was completed in January 2012.
  • The next major update is due to be carried out by end December 2012.