Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission minutes: May 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

Welcome: including updates on engagement, recent developments

Recent visits to the Community Custody Units at HMP Perth and HMP Castle Huntly provided valuable insights. These engagements continue to support the Commission’s understanding of sentencing outcomes and post-release experience.

Other key recent engagement included the recent Sentencing Council Symposium, where the Chair presented on the Commission’s work, raising its profile and receiving positive feedback.

In the upcoming period there are planned meetings with the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and regional stakeholders in the Highlands and with people with direct experience of the justice system. These visits aim to broaden stakeholder perspectives and gather local insights

There was a strong and constructive response received to the call for evidence with over 100 responses from a broad range of individuals and organisations. The analysis will be carried out by independent researchers, with a light touch review conducted in-house. Commissioners will have the opportunity to read the responses and contribute views. Not all consultation responses will be published in full as many were marked “confidential”.

It is expected that the Commission “primer” document will be published in July to set out the broad context for reform and highlight the key data available.

2. Deep dive on release from custody – options for reform

A range of potential reforms regarding release from custody 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.

Any other business

The next Commission meeting will take place on 14 July at St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh.