Scottish Government

National Objectives for Social Work Services in the Criminal Justice System: Standards
Social Enquiry Reports and associated Court Services

CONTENTS

CHAPTER1: INTRODUCTION
1.3-the legal framework of SERs
1.4-priorities for reports
1.5- the purposes of reports
1.9-working principles
CHAPTER 2: GATHERING INFORMATION FOR A REPORT
2.1- essential background information
2.4- using the information
2.6- interviewing the offender
2.8-investigating offending behaviour
2.9- investigating personal and social circumstances
2.21-information from third parties
CHAPTER 3: ISSUES TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN GATHERING INFORMATION FOR A REPORT
3.2- confidentiality
3.10- the extent of contact with the offender and his or her family
3.16- home visits
CHAPTER 4: MAKING AN ASSESSMENT
4.3- assessing the risk of re-offending and the offender's attitude and motivation to change
4.5- assessing the risk of custody
4.7- assessing the feasibility of a community based disposal or the need for supervision on release from custody
4.9- offering information and advice which can help the court decide between available sentencing options.
4.10- women offenders
4.12- other groups of offenders
CHAPTER 5: WRITING THE REPORT
5.1- general points
5.2- ensuring relevance
5.4- ensuring reliability
5.5- ensuring impartiality
5.6- reaching conclusions and reviewing possible sentencing options
CHAPTER 6: PROCEDURES FOR PROVIDING REPORTS
6.1- request for reports
6.7- completed reports
CHAPTER 7: RELATED INFORMATION AND ADVICE SERVICES FOR THE COURT
7.2- oral reports
7.5- stand down reports
7.9- reports following an accelerated plea
7.10- pre-trial reports
7.13- supplementary reports
7.17- other social work reports
CHAPTER 8: COURT BASED SOCIAL WORK SERVICES
8.2- dealing with requests for reports
8.3- stand down interviews and oral reports
8.4- interviews immediately after the court requests a report
8.5- interviews immediately after the court has remanded the offender in custody or passed a custodial sentence.
8.13- interviews immediately following court disposals involving social work
8.16-court based social work assistance
CHAPTER 9: MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
9.2- monitoring the standard of reports
9.4- liaison with the courts
9.5- making provision for court based social work services
9.7- administration and the use of qualified social workers
9.8- accommodation and resources
APPENDIX I: THE DUNSCORE
APPENDIX II: SOCIAL ENQUIRY REPORT
APPENDIX III: REVIEWING COMMUNITY-BASED SENTENCING OPTIONS THE RANGE OF AVAILABLE DISPOSALS
APPENDIX IV: SUICIDE RISK IDENTIFICATION FORM
APPENDIX V: LIST OF TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS FOR PENAL ESTABLISHMENTS