This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Confidence in community justice grows
30/01/2007
Community sentences are proving to be an increasingly credible way of dealing with offending behaviour, Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said today.
The Minister's comments came as annual statistics were published showing increasing use of community sentences including community service orders, supervised attendance orders, and restriction of liberty orders.
Under this Executive, Scotland has developed one of the widest range of community sentencing options in Europe. The task now, the Minister said, is to build up confidence among sentencers that community sentences will be effectively delivered and enforced.
The Criminal Justice Social Work Statistics, 2005-06 also show that the numbers of breaches recorded has increased for all community disposals.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said:
"Sentencing is clearly a matter for the courts, taking into account the circumstances of each individual case. It is not - and will not - be my role to instruct judges and sheriffs when to use a prison or a community disposal. But all the evidence points to a better mix of prison and community sentences as the best way to tackle reoffending.
"The challenge for everyone involved in the delivery of community options is to allow sentencers to be confident that these are credible sentences - well resourced, operating to high standards, and rigorously enforced. Confidence is clearly growing with more and more use being made of the penalties available - but we still have a long way to go.
"Often I have heard community sentences undermined - in the media and in political debate - because of perceived failings in how they are enforced. Well, here is further evidence that those who fail to stick to the rules will face consequences. These are tough sentences that are backed up by effective monitoring - the number of breaches recorded proves that.
"The public want to see crime falling, offenders punished, and people taking responsibility for their actions. Crime is falling and community sentences are making a serious contribution to the overall drive to tackle reoffending. But I believe that we have only begun to tap into their potential.
"The reforms of court procedures and offender management we are delivering will help to ensure that our justice system is better placed to deliver fair and effective sentences that cut reoffending and the root causes of that behaviour."
Background:
Criminal Justice Social Work Statistics 2005-06 are available to view at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/01/29151512
2. Community sentences are backed by record levels of funding. Last year alone we increased funding to support delivery of community-based criminal justice services by more than £10 million. In the last five years we have doubled total funding to Criminal Justice Social Work from £44 million to £90 million for 2006-07.
GLOSSARY
Community Service orders require offenders to carry out unpaid work in the community as an alternative to a custodial sentence.
Probation orders provide an opportunity to address offending behaviour. Additional conditions can include unpaid work, place of residence, curfew, financial recompense to the victim or attendance at a specialist programme.
Drug Treatment and Testing Orders are a community-based disposal aimed at drug-misusing offenders who might otherwise receive a custodial sentence. Their aim is twofold: to reduce the amount of crime committed to fund drug misuse and to reduce the level of drug misuse. Offenders are placed on a specialist programme lasting between six months and three years. Failure to comply with the terms of the order can result in alternative sentences.
Restriction of Liberty Orders require an offender to be restricted to a specific place for a maximum period of 12 hours per day up to a maximum of 12 months and/or from a specified place or places for up to 12 months. The orders only apply to those aged over 16. The offender wears an unobtrusive transmitter (tagging device) on his or her ankle or wrist. The transmitter sends out a signal which is picked up by the monitoring unit when within range. The monitoring unit is connected to a central computer system where information about the offender's presence or absence is permanently stored. If the offender is not in the correct place at the correct time then the computer will alert monitoring staff.
A Supervised Attendance Order (SAO) is an order which may be imposed as an alternative to custody in cases of fine default. Depending on the level of fine an SAO can vary in length from 10 hours (for fines up to £50) to 100 hours (for fines of over £500) and these hours must be completed within 12 months of the order being made. The content of an order will vary according to the specific case. This can range from training modules on topics such as money management to undertaking unpaid work in the community, for example in a hospital or with a voluntary organisation. We have recently announced that we will roll out mandatory SAOs this summer, meaning all offenders who default on a fine of less than £500 will no longer be sent to prison.
Contact: Emma Shea 0131 244 2642
News Release: «NewsReleaseNo»
Internet: www.scotland.gov.uk