It aims to provide information on specialist and voluntary sector support in every local authority area
Information on support for people involved with the justice system is included in a new online directory developed by Community Justice Scotland.
The resource also includes details of community sentences and other court interventions across Scotland.
The directory aims to provide sheriffs, defence agents, the prosecution service and social workers with information on local and national specialist and voluntary sector support in every local authority area across Scotland.
It’s hoped this will help with quickly identifying effective, community-based solutions when someone is being sentenced in court.
Many organisations across Scotland support communities by tackling the underlying causes of crime and work with individuals to help reduce re-offending. The Community Interventions and Support Directory will provide information on these vital services and what’s available in specific areas.
Community Justice Scotland is reaching out to organisations and groups who support people in the community across the country to ensure they are included in the directory. Organisations can submit information through an online form.
The directory lists community interventions – which are actions a court can take which include sentences such as Community Payback Orders, Drug Treatment and Testing Orders, Structured Deferred Sentences and other measures such as bail supervision and third sector programmes, available in each local authority area.
It also includes community support – listing statutory and third sector organisations and groups providing help. The support might not be part of a specific sentence – but may help someone address behaviour that led to their offending for instance if the court has deferred passing sentence for a period of time.
It can be accessed on the Community Justice Scotland website and also Scotland’s judicial hub – which is the intranet system run by the Judicial Institute which can be accessed directly by all the Judicial Office Holders in Scotland.
Karyn McCluskey, chief executive of Community Justice Scotland, said: “How can sheriffs, defence lawyers, the prosecution and social workers make the best decisions for those in the justice system if they don’t have access to the most up-to-date information? We’ve created a new directory that gives them easy access to what’s available for the person standing in front of them so they can come up with community-based solutions.
“Increasing confidence in community sentencing is vital if we want to reduce reoffending and make Scotland safer. This new directory will help ensure more people in the justice system receive the community support and court interventions needed to help them move towards a more positive future."
