Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission minutes: October 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, Assistant Chief Officer for Operations and Governance Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership
• Secretariat, Quentin Fisher, Nicola Wisdahl, Aimee Burns, Shana Manzoor, Alastair Bowden

Items and actions

1.Welcome: including updates on engagement, recent developments

In September, several valuable engagement meetings took place. These included discussions with the Risk Management Authority as well as a session with Community Justice Scotland. Additionally, an insightful meeting was held with Families Outside Scotland, a charity dedicated to supporting families affected by imprisonment.

2.Ambition: How to frame the Commission’s ambition

The group explored potential milestones that the Commission could recommend aimed at addressing and reducing the prison population over the next decade.

3.Stepping Off the Path: Early interventions and alternatives to court proceedings.

A range of reform proposals were considered, regarding youth crime, antisocial behaviour, domestic abuse, victims and public safety, Fiscal Work Orders, and restorative justice interventions.

4. Community Justice Scotland – landscape and governance – Discussion paper

A range of reform proposals were considered regarding how to strengthen the delivery of community justice.

5. Crossing the Line: Entering the Justice System

The conversation primarily addressed reducing the use of remand, the availability of bail support and supervision, and the use of technology to provide assurances for victims.

6.  Paying the Price: Custody, Accountability, and Making Progress

A range of reform proposals were considered regarding how to strengthen issues related to rehabilitation and release to help people be reintegrated effectively and reduce reoffending.

7. Looking Ahead: Towards a Smarter Penal Policy

Discussions regarding the need to improve data sharing to improve the system’s ability to understand needs, assess risk, evaluate interventions and plan effectively.

8. Any Other Business 

The next meeting of the Chair and Commissioners is scheduled for 24 November 2025 at St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh.