News In Focus
5 November 2007
Community court model proposed for Glasgow
A community court, based on a similar scheme in the US that gives offenders education, drugs programmes and reparation orders, is planned for Glasgow, according to an article in today's Herald.
The court is being developed by a group of sheriffs, procurators fiscal, police and other officials. The judge would be a stipendiary magistrate and its proposed venue is Bridgeton in the East End.
The Red Hook community justice court in New York, the model under consideration, has reduced crime in what was a dangerous area. It works on the basis of swift justice and community sentences. Offenders who fail to comply are promptly brought back to court. The court also accommodates drug treatment services, domestic violence counselling, job training and medical services for victims and offenders.
A director of the body behind the New York court has been working with the Scottish group and believes that Scotland is ready for a similar model.