News

Conviction rate for rape is the lowest for any crime type in Scotland

The conviction rate for rape and attempted rape was, for the 10^th year in a row, the lowest for any crime type in Scotland in 2021-22. Just 48% of rape cases that made it to court in 2021-22 resulted in a conviction. The overall conviction rate in Scotland for the same year was 88%. The conviction rate for rape has also decreased from 51% in 2020-21.

Joint statement on long-term prisoner release

Rape Crisis Scotland has joined Scottish Women’s Aid, Victim Support Scotland and ASSIST in issuing the below statement on the planned long-term release of prisoners in Scotland.

As leading organisations upholding the rights of victims and witnesses of crime as well as women and girls affected by domestic abuse and gender-based violence in particular, we have come together to share joint concerns regarding proposed changes to the release of long-term prisoners.

In collectively acknowledging the dangers of an overcrowded prison estate, however, we maintain that short-term approaches like these are not the answer.

First ever sentencing guidelines for rape published

The Scottish Sentencing Council (SSC) has published the first ever draft guidelines on sentencing for rape.

We welcome these guidelines and hope they will lead to fairer and more transparent sentencing.

It's essential that the views of survivors are taken into account in finalising these guidelines and we encourage survivors to contribute their views by responding to the SSC's consultation. The consultation is open until 18 October 2024. 

New statistics show survivors are waiting too long for justice

New statistics published by the Scottish Government show that the average time survivors are waiting for justice, from offence to conviction at the High Court, is 1,125 days.

No survivor should ever be left waiting for three years for justice. It’s totally unacceptable that this is now the average wait.