395 Criminal Statistics and Criminal Legislation. By SHERIFF WATSON. THE Criminal Statistics of Scotland are not satisfactory. The managers under the Prisons Administration Act quarterly transmit to the Secretary of State an abstract of returns of prisoners in the criminal department of each prison in Scotland, compared with the numbers returned in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. On looking at the return for the quarter ended 30th June, 1863, we find that the average daily number throughout the quarter was 2,400; and the average throughout the same quarter of the previous year was 2,203, showing an increase of 197, of which Aberdeen contributed its quota of two. As these returns only give the number of prisoners in the criminal department of each prison, without stating the crimes or offences for which they were committed, the only inference that can be drawn is, that crime has increased. But that the returns are fallacious, and the inference deducible from them is incorrect, may be clearly shown by the statistics of the Aberdeen prisons for the same periods. Before referring to these, however, it may be stated that the Session of Parliament, 1862, by passing the Public-house Act, and the Aberdeen Police Act, added greatly to the number of offences punishable by imprisonment, which, if they had not been declared criminal by Act of Parliament, would not have been considered so by any right thinking person. The statistics of the Aberdeen prisons, to which we refer, are:-1st. Statement by the governor of the number of persons confined on criminal charges on 10th September last. The number confined was, 39. 0243 60 days. 40 5 30 20 ། 29 2. Returns by the governor of the number of persons committed to the prisons of Aberdeen during the quarter ending June, 1862: ... 182 Breach of poor and game laws, and military offences... ... ... Breach of game and poor laws, and military offences 268 Clearly showing that recent legislation has added 77 to the commitments, without which there would have been a diminution of 9. But the fallacy of trusting to commitments is farther manifest from the following tables, showing the number of commitments and re-commitments for the two quarters. 1st. During the quarter ending June, 1862 |