Scotland’s Criminal Justice System explained
How does Scotland’s criminal justice system work?
Our new-look digital guide shows the criminal justice system in full — demonstrating its complexity and the various stages a person may pass through, from an alleged crime, to investigation, prosecution, sentencing, and beyond.
What’s new?
- an accessible and clear layout
- streamlined navigation: making it easier to read about each step and possible outcome
- clear and concise descriptions of justice terms
- the latest official statistics
- a downloadable PDF of the full system
- links to local community interventions and support services
Who is it useful for?
This is a free digital resource used by a wide range of people including:
- justice practitioners
- social workers
- education professionals
- students studying topics including social work, criminology or law
- decision-makers within justice processes
- people involved with the justice system, or those who know them
Functions explained
More information button
In addition to the ability to navigate through the steps of Scotland’s criminal justice system, the guide contains clear definitions of justice terms and the latest statistics. Together these illustrate the current status of the justice landscape (these are updated regularly, when new information is published).
The guide is therefore useful to anybody who needs to be informed about processes within the Scottish criminal justice system; whether for work, study or personal reasons.
This can include people who have been harmed, or those with loved ones involved with the criminal justice system. The resource is intended to empower people to have a better understanding of a complex and often overwhelming system.
Community intervention button
There are opportunities within Scotland’s criminal justice system to support an individual to tackle the underlying causes of their offending behaviour and improve their future outcomes. Organisations across Scotland deliver a wide range of support relating to community justice.
Clicking the ‘Community Intervention’ button allows users to access our Community Interventions and Support Directory to search for interventions or support in their local authority.
Story button
This is an option of exploring the criminal justice system through the real stories of people who have experienced it. Visitors can listen to, or watch, Malky, Morag, Jack or Lucy’s stories; these stories are taken from our flagship campaign Second Chancers.