What we do
Community Justice Scotland is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) founded in 2016 following the passing of the Community Justice (Scotland) Act .
Our focus is on results, seeking solutions that work and delivering the right balance of redress and rehabilitation for our society. We work with politicians, experts, the media and the public to shift social norms and challenge conventions.
Our aim is to drive progress in the field of community justice. We work hard to create better outcomes for those who have broken the law, their families and victims of crime.
We follow the evidence, share our research and work with our partners to deliver change.
We’re helping to build a safer Scotland where everyone can maximise their potential within a fair and equitable justice system.
We work tirelessly, with the support of our partners, to help people in Scotland understand and value the benefits of community justice.
Our aims:
- To promote good practice and support the leadership, engagement and partnership working of national and local partners
- To provide high quality and bespoke training to practitioners across Scotland
- To empower the voices of ‘lived’ experience and their families so they influence decision and policy-making
- To increase public understanding about what community justice is and build confidence in it as an effective sentencing option
- To make sure that restorative justice is available across Scotland
- To improve throughcare and mentoring for those released from prison
- To increase access to services that support desistance, at the earliest opportunity
We promote the Scottish Government’s National Strategy for Community Justice, making sure that people understand the benefits in key areas like early intervention, prevention and community sentences. We keep Scottish Ministers up to date with the performance of community justice provisions while constantly reviewing the National Outcomes, Performance and Improvement Framework for community justice in Scotland.