Public Attitudes Research – March 2026

In March 2026, Community Justice Scotland commissioned Diffley Partnership, an independent research agency in Edinburgh, to undertake national polling to examine attitudes towards the criminal justice system in Scotland.

This included questions regarding views on the current workings of the criminal justice system and its outcomes and potential reforms including community alternatives and a national decarceration plan. This work follows on from a similar survey conducted across the whole of the UK by More in Common, for Common Ground Justice

The Diffley Partnership survey was in field from 6th – 9th March 2026 and achieved 2,171 responses across Scotland; invitations were issued via the online ScotPulse panel. Results were weighted to 2024 Scottish mid-year population estimates for age and gender. More in Common’s survey was in field from 28th February – March 2nd 2026 and achieved 2,009 responses, weighted by age and sex for the UK population.