Julia Clarke, former Research Officer, Community Justice Scotland “However well you know the system, it can still work against you.” These were the words of a professional I met last year, who had recently found herself in the shoes of the clients she worked with day in, day out. Events in her personal life had…
A week from Karyn McCluskey’s diary
There’s nothing typical about a working week in the life of our chief executive Karyn McCluskey. Many think she works exclusively under the justice remit – but her role is much wider. Here Karyn shares her diary from a recent week before the tightened lockdown restrictions came into force. Sunday I run 5km for the…
How vital domestic abuse work has continued during the pandemic (2/2)
In the second part of our #TalkingJustice blog series on the Caledonian System, national trainer and advisor Gill McKinna explains how the team has adapted to the pandemic Working with men who abuse their partners is fundamental in keeping women and children safe. Restrictions around the pandemic have made intervention work especially challenging in this…
Domestic abuse work is helping men change and making women safer (1/2)
As part of the Talking Justice blog series Caledonian National Coordinator Rory Macrae talks about the work of the internationally-recognised system helping change abusive behaviour We believe that men who abuse women partners have the ability to change and we get immense satisfaction when this happens. But even if they’re not ready to make changes,…
A joined-up justice system is needed to build a safer, more equal, healthier Scotland
As part of our Talking Justice blog series, Amelia Morgan, Venture Trust CEO, explains why a joined-up justice system helps improve lives “The life that I have now is brilliant compared to what it was like. I thought I was a failure and that I was going to die in that horrible existence of addiction,…
Making justice accessible to victims
As part of our Talking Justice blog series, Mike Findlay, Head of Communications and External Affairs at Victim Support Scotland reflects on how justice services in Scotland have adapted in a year unlike any other “You need a law degree to understand the justice system.” I heard this quote a while back from a colleague…
Why we need to be braver when it comes to justice reform
As part of our Talking Justice blog series, Keith Gardner, Head of Analysis and Improvement at Community Justice Scotland, explains why we shouldn’t be afraid of change POP QUIZ: Five of the top ten ‘fears’ we have are: arachnophobia, pteromerhanophobia, cynophobia, astraphobia, trypanophobia – do you know what they are? (Answers at the end of…
International Recognition in Restorative Justice for Gael Cochrane
As part of our Talking Justice blog series, Gael Cochrane, Learning Development and Innovation Lead at Community Justice Scotland, explains how she’ll be using her new role as a specialist trainer in restorative justice to make a difference. Restorative justice is a way for people harmed and those who caused harm to come together in…
How Restorative Justice is Changing Lives
As part of our Talking Justice blog series, Gemma Fraser, Improvement Lead at Community Justice Scotland, explains how restorative justice is changing lives. I’ll never forget the woman who wanted to meet the stranger who’d broken into her home and assaulted her in front of her young son. She didn’t want an apology. She wanted…
The Importance of a Good Question
As part of our Talking Justice blog series, Lynne Thornhill, Community Justice Co-ordinator in Stirling, reflects on the challenges in our justice system – and how she’s actively driving improvements to make a difference at a local level. The Justice System is undoubtedly complex. The community justice workforce is a wide collection of organisations who…