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CJS submission to the Scottish Parliament Justice Committee on pre-budget scrutiny

CJS recently submitted a response to the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee on pre-budget scrutiny.

Read our full response here.

Disclosure (Scotland) Bill – Written Submission to Education and Skills Committee

The disclosure regime in Scotland is complex and affected by a range of legislation including the recent Management of Offenders and Age of Criminal Responsibility Acts – that complexity creates confusion for many. Simplification of this landscape is critical to ensure that people with convictions are afforded opportunities to move on with their lives. It is particularly important that people also understand when a conviction becomes spent and is no longer required to be disclosed . The provision of accessible guidance will be important in ensuring the effective implementation of the new system.

CJS’s submission to the Education and Skills Committee on the Disclosure (Scotland) Bill can be found here:

CJS response to consultation on a new National Public Health body: Public Health Scotland

CJS recently submitted a response to the consultation on the new National Public Health body: ‘Public Health Scotland’, welcoming the creation of the new body and noting that as a new health board it should be considered to be a community justice partner under Section 13 of the Community Justice (Scotland) Act 2016.

Read our full response here.

Punishment in Installments: Understanding and Navigating the Disclosure and Conviction Process

Disclosure of past convictions has a major impact on a person’s access to employment, education and volunteering opportunities. People who have ‘ done their time’ whether in prison or in the community often find that the disclosure system, designed to protect the public, can also prevent people from moving on.

The report by CJS Policy Apprentice Kim McGuigan is a case study on a person’s experience of navigating the current disclosure system ,in particular the removal of a spent conviction. It includes some recommendations which CJS hopes will inform future policy development on disclosure and has been shared with colleagues at Disclosure Scotland.

Written evidence to the justice committee on the proposed extension of PASS

In its Programme for Government 2018-19, the Scottish Government stated that it would extend the presumption against short sentences from 3 to 12 months. In advance of the Scottish Statutory Instrument being laid in Scottish Parliament, the Justice Committee invited submissions of written evidence on the impact of the PASS since introduction, and the potential impact of the proposed extension.

On 22nd May 2019, Community Justice Scotland submitted this written evidence in response. Read here.

The Framework for Smart Justice, Strategic Commissioning Framework: Frequently Asked Questions

Scottish Government have asked CJS to develop a Framework for three years that focusses on good practice guidance for strategic commissioning, and advised that they hope to see effective delivery across community justice partners and partnerships by that time. They have also made a long term commitment to embedding joint strategic planning and delivery in community justice. The FAQ sheet has been created to update partners on ‘The Framework for Smart Justice’ scope, timescales and opportunities to connect with the work.

Download FAQs here.

CJS response letter on Scottish Government homelessness consultation on local connection and intentionality provisions

Attached is a letter from CJS Chief Executive, Karyn McCluskey, in relation to the Scottish Government consultation on local connection and intentionality provisions homelessness legislation.

Read here.

Joint Letter to Cabinet Secretary for Justice – Transforming parole in Scotland

On 19 November 2018, Scottish Government launched a consultation on proposed reforms of the Parole Board for Scotland, aimed at improving the experience of victims in the parole process and to increase transparency.  Community Justice Scotland considered these reforms in collaboration with Wellbeing Scotland, a third sector organisation supporting people who have experienced significant trauma.  We thought about the consequences of the potential changes for victims of crime and people with convictions going through the parole process.

Click here to read our response.

CJS response to Prisoner Voting

CJS has submitted a brief response to the Scottish Government on its Prisoner Voting consultation following our Board meeting on 23 January 2019. Read our response here.

CJS response to Hate Crime Consultation

CJS has submitted a response to the Scottish Government on its Hate Crime consultation following our Board meeting on 23 January 2019.

Read full response here.