Delivering community justice

An expert group focused on improving the delivery of community justice interventions will meet tomorrow (Wednesday 21 August) for the first time.  

Senior leaders from justice, health, local government and social work will identify and coordinate action to further strengthen community justice services and alternatives to custody. They will also focus on increasing public and judicial confidence in community justice by demonstrating its effectiveness in supporting rehabilitation and reducing reoffending.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf will co-chair the group with Councillor Kelly Parry, COSLA’s Communities and Wellbeing spokesperson.

Mr Yousaf said:

“Our goal is to change attitudes and support a wider cultural shift that goes beyond simply increasing the proportion of sentences served in the community. We need to strengthen delivery and improve confidence in community justice interventions at every stage – from pre-prosecution through to court and post-sentencing, including helping people leaving prison. Clear leadership is required at every level, bringing together the important work already taking place across justice and other services to prevent offending and victimisation.

“Parliament’s backing for the extension of Scotland’s presumption against short prison sentences showed there is already considerable consensus around our evidence-led approach to preventing reoffending. I am looking forward to working with the group to continue driving improvements at pace and scale – ensuring Scotland’s community justice services are the best they can be.”

Councillor Parry said:

“Most people understand the difficult circumstances of those who get into trouble with the law and many would consider alternatives to prison if that would reduce the chances of reoffending. I welcome the greater emphasis on community alternatives to custody as an alternative which is likely to be more effective. However I recognise that public confidence needs to be developed further in these measures. 

“I am pleased that the National Community Justice Leadership Group has been established to take this broad agenda forward under the joint political oversight of the Scottish Government and Local Government, given the crucial lead role of local authorities in community justice and the role of the public and third sector.”

Background

The National Community Justice Leadership Group will link into other national groups including the Drug Deaths Taskforce and Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group to consider multiple and complex needs.

The extension to the presumption against short prison sentences came into effect on 4 July 2019.

Latest statistics show those released from a short prison sentence of 12 months or less were reconvicted nearly twice as often than those sentenced to serve community payback orders (CPOs), the most commonly used community sentence.

The Scottish Government has increased investment in criminal justice social work services to over £100 million, which includes an additional investment of £9.5 million per year compared with 2015-16 for community justice services, including to help build capacity around the presumption against short-term sentences.

In addition to this, in 2019-20, just over £11.6 million is being invested in third sector organisations supporting community justice and criminal justice social work services. As part of the national model for Community Justice, community justice partners collaborate to make best use of resources locally. 

Group membership