Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission minutes: April 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Chair -Martyn Evans
• Commissioners 
• Catherine Dyer CBE, Chair of Community Justice Scotland
• Dr Hannah Graham, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Stirling
• Former Justice Minister, Cathy Jamieson
• Sheriff David Mackie
• Lynsey Smith, Chair of the Social Work Scotland Justice Standing Committee
• Secretariat, Quentin Fisher, Nicola Wisdahl, Aimee Burns, Shana Manzoor, Alastair Bowden

Items and actions

1.Welcome and Updates on Engagement

There has been a wide range of useful engagements since the previous Commission meeting. A few of the key meetings were discussed in more detail.

The England and Wales Sentencing Commission: meeting with David Gauke was helpful and informative.  It was noted that both sentencing reviews were looking at similar issues and they can learn from each other.

There have been a number of very useful meetings with victim support organisations and discussions are under way to set up a regular forum for this. Lynsey Smith indicated she would like to be involved in these discussions going forward.

There was a helpful meeting with the new Lord Justice Clerk, Lord Beckett and a number of issues were discussed, including the importance of ensuring that stakeholders are aware that the Commission and the Council are separate entities.

Commissioners were encouraged to carry out their own engagement where appropriate and keep the secretariat updated about this.

2. Sentencing and Penal Policy: Primer

There was discussion around plans to publish a primer document in the coming weeks. It will be an opportunity to set out the key data and context for reform, set out some positive stories, and begin drafting a narrative. The Commission were made aware that Justice Analytical Services were planning to publish a paper which will help to provide an evidential basis along with the international comparisons paper.

3. Deep Dive: Sentencing Reform Options

A range of potential sentencing reforms were discussed with a view to ensuring Scotland has a sustainable prison population while considering public safety and the needs of victims. A further paper will be circulated shortly that takes on board Commissioners’ views.

In the May Commission meeting, the focus will be on bail and release, and the subsequent session will focus on remand.

4. International Comparisons & Visits

Dr Graham presented her paper setting out international comparisons and there was discussion of key factors to consider that vary between countries including prison population, political climate, public trust, approach to remand etc.

AOB

Next Meeting: Tuesday 27 May on Microsoft Teams.