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…

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…

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…

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…

As part of our Talking Justice blog series, James Maybee – Principal Officer (Criminal Justice), The Highland Council – discusses adaptability, resilience and David Bowie.  Reflecting on the challenges in our justice system my first thought was about our readiness as a criminal justice system to change. This seems to me to be the first step…

“In…an environment that holds the baby well enough, the baby is able to make personal development. The result is a continuity of existence that becomes a sense of existing, a sense of self, and eventually results in autonomy.”  D.W.Winnicott (1963) We all begin our lives inside, joined up to a life giving mother. When we…

As part of our Talking Justice blog series, Iain Smith, Partner at Keegan Smith Defence Lawyers, calls for a smarter justice system.  The majority of Defence Lawyers enter the job wanting to help people, and I’m no exception to that. But, I’ll be honest with you. There’s been moments in my career where I’ve become…

As part of our Talking Justice blog series, Connor shares his candid reflections on his journey navigating Scotland’s justice system.   The starting point  A couple of years ago, I had my first case in court. With drinking, bad environments and bad mental and physical understanding of myself, I was in one big downward spiral….

As part of our Talking Justice blog series, Samantha Reekie, Improvement Lead at Community Justice Scotland, discusses taking on one of her most challenging projects to date: Navigating Scotland’s Justice System.  My role, here at Community Justice Scotland (CJS), is about driving change by identifying improvements and challenges in our justice system. A question I…