Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission minutes: January 2026

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, Assistant Chief Officer for Operations and Governance Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership
• Secretariat, Nicola Wisdahl, Aimee Burns, Shana Manzoor, Alastair Bowden, Susan Nickalls, Communications

Items and actions

1. Welcome: including updates on recent developments etc

The final report is currently being completed, and embargoed copies will be shared with the some of the main organisations the Commission have worked with over the past 12 months.

 2. Pre-launch engagement

Meetings will be held with key stakeholders including victim groups prior to, and after publication to discuss the recommendations with them and to hear their views.

 3. Launch of final report

A press conference will take place on the morning of 6 February, involving the Chair, five Commissioners, and a range of attendees from the media. There will be a presentation followed by Q&A and media bids. The report will be issued at 10:00 to the Commission’s distribution list.

 4. Visit from Director General for Education and Justice Neil Rennick; and Director of Justice, Cat Dalrymple:11:00 -11:30

Justice DG and Director met with the Chair and Commissioners to mark the completion of the report ahead of publication. They were interested to hear how the recommendations were developed and discuss the wider context for reform

5. Communications plan

Comms colleagues set out media handling plans for launch and the days approaching, covering a range of matters including op-eds and media interviews.

6. Any Other Business

It was agreed that Commissioners would meet for a final meeting in February prior to the end of the Commission’s work.