Community justice plans up for scrutiny
1 Apr 05
Consultation opens on proposals for new co-ordinating bodies
Plans to reform the way local authorities and other bodies work together to manage offenders and tackle reoffending were published today.
The Scottish Executive's proposals, issued for consultation until 23 June, will determine the constitution and operation of the Community Justice Authorities (CJAs), to be established under the Management of Offenders etc (Scotland) Bill, introduced to the Parliament earlier this month.
The CJAs, planned to be fully operational within two years, will distribute the funding for criminal justice social work, and monitor and report on the effectiveness of joint working between agencies in tackling reoffending.
The consultation proposes:
- Establishing either four CJAs based on the Scottish Court Service areas, or six CJAs based on the six sheriffdoms. It also explores how best to support improvements to services in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.
- Membership will be drawn from councillors in the relevant local authorities, who will make the appointments. Each CJA should appoint its own convener and depute convener.
- CJAs will employ a chief officer who would be accountable to the authority and to ministers for implementing the local plan for tackling reoffending, and monitor the delivery of criminal justice services in that area.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said:
"The establishment of Community Justice Authorities is a key part of our plan to reform Scotland's criminal justice services now being taken forward through our Management of Offenders etc (Scotland) Bill.
"That Bill, published earlier this month, will not only establish CJAs but also place new duties on those new authorities, Scottish Prison Service and others to work together to develop and implement local plans to improve the management of offenders and tackle reoffending. Today's consultation moves on to look at the detail of these much-needed reforms."
The consultation document can be accessed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/47336 .