NCJ Number
83206
Date Published
1981
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This paper presents detailed information on those persons incarcerated in prisons throughout the United Kingdom as of June 30th in 1979 and 1980; sex, status, age, offenses committed, previous convictions, and sentence length are mentioned.
Abstract
As of June 30, 1980, the total prison population was 43,936, or 1,617 higher than on the same date in 1979. Male prisoners numbered 42,351, and the total number of female prisoners was 1,585. A total of 15 percent of the prison population was awaiting trial as of June 30, 1980. Over 40 percent of those remanded into custody did not subsequently receive a custodial sentence. Persons under the age of 21 composed approximately 25 percent of the prison population on June 30, 1980. With regard to sentence length, 46 percent of those incarcerated were serving sentences of 18 months or less. Of the 36,637 recorded offenses, 10,944 involved violence or sex. The most noticeable change between 1979 and 1980 was the reduction in the number of people in prison for drunkenness, a drop of almost 50 percent. Offenders with no previous convictions totaled 2,145 in 1980 and 2,090 in 1979. Inmates with five or more convictions numbered 20,571 in 1980, an increase from 19,906 in 1979. Ten tables are provided.