Perceptions of Summary Criminal Justice in Scotland
This report outlines the findings of three deliberative workshops with members of the public in Scotland. It explores people’s understanding, perceptions and expectations of the Summary Criminal Justice System in Scotland; presents wider messages around how people view justice per se; and discusses what could be done to improve or maximise public confidence in the system.
Footnotes
1 MVA Consultancy (2012) Summary Justice Reform: Victims, Witnesses and Public Perceptions Evaluation, Scottish Government, Edinburgh, available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0038/00386764.pdf
2 MVA Consultancy (2012) Summary Justice Reform: Victims, Witnesses and Public Perceptions Evaluation, Scottish Government, Edinburgh, available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0038/00386764.pdf
3 A Scotland that is Wealthier and Fairer, Smarter, Healthier, Safer and Stronger and Greener.
4 Information on the separate evaluations is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/legal/criminalprocedure/19008/monitoringandevaluation
5 Further information is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/legal/mjw
6 Scottish Government (2012) Making Justice Work for Victims and Witnesses: Victims and Witnesses Bill - A Consultation Paper, Scottish Government, Edinburgh available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0039/00393452.pdf
7 Wilson, C. (2012) The Public and the Justice System: Attitudes, Drivers and Behaviour, A Literature Review, Scottish Government, Edinburgh available at: http://www.scotland.gov.ukdd935b45-a114-4bef-bc8f-b15a70d464fe
8 Nicholson, L. (2003) Summary Justice Review: Public Views on Key Issues, Scottish Executive, Edinburgh available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/925/0008782.pdf
9 MRUK Research (2005) Report of the Summary Justice Review Committee: Supplementary Research Final Report, Scottish Executive, available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/925/0016786.pdf
10 It is important to note, however, that while the nature of cases appearing at JP courts may have changed post-SJR, the reforms aimed to maintain the proportion of cases going to JP courts, not increase them. Considering an overall drop in the number of cases going through the courts over time, it may equally be the case that fewer people have direct or vicarious contact with JPs.
11 Given that most respondents had not heard of ‘summary’ criminal justice, these responses are more likely to refer to sources of knowledge about criminal justice per se.
12 Available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/08/29151240/9
13 Seizure of property in Scotland is currently only possible via a Seizure of Vehicle Order, a sanction that is available to Fines Enforcement Officers. See http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/payyourfine/svo.asp for further details.
14 Scottish Government Social Research (2011) 2010/11 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey: Main Findings, available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/10/28142346/0
15 MVA Consultancy (2012) Summary Justice Reform: Victims, Witnesses and Public Perceptions Evaluation, Scottish Government, Edinburgh, available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0038/00386764.pdf
16 Wilson, C. (2012) The Public and the Justice System: Attitudes, Drivers and Behaviour, A Literature Review, Scottish Government, Edinburgh available at: http://www.scotland.gov.ukdd935b45-a114-4bef-bc8f-b15a70d464fe
17 MVA Consultancy (2012) Impact of Bail Reforms on Summary Justice Reform, Scottish Government, Edinburgh, available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0038/00389437.pdf
18 Wilson, C. and Perman, J. (2012) Supervised Bail in Scotland: Research on use and impact, Scottish Government, Edinburgh, available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0039/00390604.pdf
19 Anderson, S.; Ingram, D,; Hutton, N (2002) Public Attitudes Towards Sentencing And Alternatives To Imprisonment Scottish Parliament Paper 488 session 1 2002 HMSO: Edinburgh
20 Nicholson, L. (2003) Summary Justice Review: Public Views on Key Issues, Scottish Executive, Edinburgh available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/925/0008782.pdf
21 TNS System Three (2007) Community Sentencing: Public Perceptions and Attitudes, Scottish Government, Edinburgh, available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/203436/0054193.pdf
22 Scottish Government Social Research (2011) 2010/11 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey: Main Findings, Scottish Government, Edinburgh, available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/10/28142346/0
Scribbins et al (2010) Public perceptions of policing, engagement with the police and victimisation: Findings from the 2009/10 British Crime Survey, Home Office, London
23 Charlton, Michelle (2010) Public attitudes towards neighbourhood policing: Results from an opinion poll, London: Home Office
24 Anderson et al (2002) Public Attitudes Towards Sentencing And Alternatives To Imprisonment, Scottish Parliament Paper 488, Session 1: 2002, HMSO: Edinburgh
25 Van de Walle, S. and Raine, J. (2008) Explaining attitudes towards the justice system in the UK and Europe, Ministry of Justice Research Series 9/08, London: Ministry of Justice
26 Jackson, J. and Sunshine, J. (2007) Public confidence in policing: a neo-Durkheimian perspective, British Journal of Criminology 2007 (3), v.47 (no. 2), p214
Contact
Email: Carole Wilson Edwards
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