National Strategy for Community Justice: Review Consultation

3. Strategic context

Community justice is complex and broad in scope. As a result of the often-complex needs of individuals progressing through the justice system, the services they require can be wide ranging and intersect with numerous policy areas.

Looking ahead to the next 3 to 5 years, the Scottish Government anticipates the following themes to be some of the most vital in the effective provision of community justice.

• Early intervention, diversion from prosecution and other preventative measures that serve to address offending behaviour before further interaction with the justice system becomes necessary.
• Use of electronic monitoring technology to enable the safe management of individuals in a community setting.
• Effective provision and use of bail support and supervision, where courts consider appropriate.
• Efficient and joined-up delivery of services throughout an individual’s pathway through the justice system, including active utilisation of digital technologies.
• A joined-up approach across key public services—including health, housing and skills development—to support preventing individuals entering the justice system and to reduce reoffending.

The strategy also needs to align with work being undertaken in numerous other policy areas. This includes, but is not limited to, the following.

• National Performance Framework (NPF)

A review of the NPF was recently undertaken and a new framework will be proposed by the end of 2026.

• Public Service Reform Strategy – Delivering for Scotland

The Strategy for Public Service Reform sets out a systemic approach to providing efficient and effective public services, recognising the challenges and barriers that exist in delivering these. Workstreams under this strategy aim to tackle these barriers and align with three pillars - prevention, joined up services, and efficient services.

• No One Left Behind: employability strategic plan

No One Left Behind aims to transform employment support in Scotland by providing an approach that is more tailored and responsive to the needs of people who want support on their journey towards, into and in work. It promotes a strengthened partnership approach where the Scottish & Local Government (Partnership Agreement for Employability) work together with public, third and private sector partners to identify local needs and make informed, evidence-based decisions, flexing these to meet emerging labour market demands.

• Mental Health Strategy

For those struggling with mental health challenges, it is important that appropriate support is available so that they can either recover from or manage their condition and live as healthy, happy and productive lives as possible. The Mental Health Strategy seeks to enable this by improving prevention, early intervention, access to treatment and accessible mental health services across Scotland.

• Preventing Harm, Promoting Recovery: Scotland's Alcohol & Drugs Strategic Plan 2026 – 2035

Individuals with a drug or alcohol dependency are more likely to come into contact with the justice system than those that don’t. It is also the case that such dependencies can be brought about by trauma or mental health issues. The Preventing Harm, Promoting Recovery strategy supports the provision of person-centred care, delivered through a public health approach to substance use.

• Ending homelessness together: updated action plan

For any individual, homelessness has a profound impact on their outcomes. For those that have come into contact with the justice system, such as those being released from custody, it can affect the likelihood of them reoffending. The measures set out in this action plan set out to embed a person-centred approach and prevent homelessness taking place in the first place, with national and local government, the third sector and other public bodies working together in partnership.

• Bringing Hope, Building Futures: Tackling child poverty delivery plan 2026-2031

Tackling child poverty requires a holistic approach, and many of the issues that drive child poverty, such as lack of affordable homes and a need for employment or skills support for parents, can be applied to individuals in the justice system. The National Strategy for Community Justice also recognises the disruption to children that can come from having a parent on remand.

Much of the cross-cutting work that has been undertaken at a national level to implement the aims of the strategy is documented in its accompanying Delivery Plan. There have been 5 updates to the delivery plan, each providing a summary on the progress of deliverables.