National Strategy for Community Justice: Review Consultation

1. Introduction

The National Strategy for Community Justice (“the strategy”) provides the national direction for community justice across Scotland. It recognises that while prison will always be necessary for those who commit the most serious offences or who pose a risk of significant harm to others, in many cases community-based interventions and sentences can be more effective than custody in reducing reoffending and improving rehabilitation.

In addition to delivering justice, a community justice approach seeks to address the underlying causes of offending behaviour, such as drug and alcohol addiction, and put people on a better path that reduces the likelihood of them reoffending in future. Community sentences, such as a community payback order (CPO) or restriction of liberty order (RLO), enable individuals to be held to account for their offending, but also supported to become responsible contributors to their community.

The strategy sets out the aims, ambitions and priority actions for community justice across Scotland. It also acknowledges the challenges that many delivery partners face, such as multiple pressures on available resources.

This consultation supports a wider review of the national strategy by Scottish Ministers to gauge its suitability in strengthening and improving community justice in the coming years or, alternatively, to inform the development of a new strategy.