Ministerial Foreword
I am pleased to be able to introduce this document which outlines the steps that the Scottish Government is taking, in partnership with Scotland's criminal justice organisations, to monitor and evaluate the impact of the comprehensive reforms to the summary criminal justice system, enacted in the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007.
The reforms, designed to ensure that justice is done as swiftly and effectively as possible, were implemented during 2007 and 2008 and are still continuing. For victims and witnesses in particular, participation in the criminal justice process can be stressful, and yet their active participation is often essential if justice is to be dispensed effectively. As well as improving business efficiency the reforms are intended to improve the experiences of victims and witnesses.
The reforms are impacting on all victims, witnesses, practitioners - and accused - who come into contact with the criminal justice system. It is vital that we are able to measure and assess the extent to which they have improved the functioning of the summary criminal justice system and how far we have moved towards the desired aim of realigning the system to ensure it is speedier and more efficient and effective as well as fair. Careful monitoring and thorough evaluation are also essential in facilitating continuous improvement. Implementation of the reforms was only the start of the journey towards system improvement. It is the actions undertaken at local level on a daily basis that will change the way in which the system functions and system culture and it is imperative that this is supported by robust information.
For these reasons we have put in place a comprehensive and detailed programme of monitoring and evaluation. This paper outlines what is in that programme and contains details of system performance in the first full 12 months post-implementation of the reforms.
The evidence shows that large numbers of very minor cases have, rightly, been kept out of the courts, freeing up time for the more serious cases to be dealt with, speeding up the time with which cases are progressed through court and saving large numbers of victims and witnesses from having to attend court.
The Scottish Parliament, in particular the Justice Committee, will naturally have a strong interest in ensuring robust evaluation of the reform programme. The programme of work outlined in this paper, which we anticipate will be complemented by work to be undertaken by Audit Scotland on the efficiency of justice, will result in the impact of the reform programme being thoroughly scrutinised.
Kenny MacAskill
Cabinet Secretary for Justice