Additional funding for supervised bail
25 Jan 08
Move aimed at cutting Scotland's "unacceptably high" remand population
Supervised bail schemes are to receive an extra £500,000 a year.
The schemes are mainly designed to minimise the number of accused people held on remand in custody before trial or for reports after conviction. They allow the accused to be released on supervised bail to the community before a further court hearing.
Priority for targeting of bail supervision will be given to those with mental health problems, women, single parents and young people aged between 16 and 21.
The Scottish Government hopes the additional investment on top of the existing annual £1.2 million will help significantly increase overall capacity, as the country's remand population is "unacceptably high".
The government is also issuing updated guidance on bail supervision to local authorities, so that the schemes are run more consistently.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "If a court considers the interests of public safety are best served by remanding an accused pending their trial, then the court will still be able to remand that accused. Nothing will change in that respect.
"However at the moment Scotland's remand population is unacceptably high, so by providing extra financial support we can help ease some of the pressure on the system. Supervised bail is designed to provide courts with an additional option where the accused might otherwise have been remanded."
Assessment for bail supervision requires to take account issues such as the nature of any outstanding charges (including breaches of bail), public safety, witness safety, previous failure to appear/absconding and previous offending.