This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Community Reparation Orders
04/04/2005
A new sentencing option that forces offenders to make
amends for antisocial behaviour by doing unpaid community
work is available for the first time from today in courts
in Inverclyde and Inverness.
Community Reparation Orders (CROs) were introduced by
the Executive as part of the Antisocial Behaviour Scotland
Act.
They can be used to deal with relatively low-level
antisocial crimes that are heard without a jury in the
district and sheriff courts.
They focus specifically on making reparation for
antisocial behaviour by providing between ten to 100 hours
of unpaid work.
The option is being piloted in courts in Inverclyde,
Inverness and Dundee - it will be available in Dundee later
this month.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said:
"The Executive is committed to giving the courts access
to the widest possible range of sentencing options -
helping ensure each sentence fits the crime, and creating
a swifter, smarter justice system.
"Community Reparation Orders are an excellent example of
this. An individual placed on an Order will be forced to
make amends to their local community by carrying out ten to
100 hours of unpaid work. That could mean that the yob who
smashed a window spends a week repairing windows - putting
something back to the community while giving them an
opportunity to enhance their life skills.
"Local authorities have a statutory responsibility to
consult with community organisations on the type of
activities that offenders should be involved in - to ensure
that offenders are carrying out work that will make the
biggest positive difference in their local areas.
"All the evidence suggests that punishment of this type
is more likely to have an impact on reoffending. And if
the offender fails to pay their full debt to the community,
they will face further punishment. This is a smart option,
not a soft option.
"Now that the order is available, I am sure it will
establish itself among sentencers as a disposal which can
make a difference. If it proves to be successful we will
look at making it available to courts across Scotland.
"Antisocial behaviour blights too many communities. But
Community Reparation Orders can play a role in dealing
effectively with it. We are firmly on the side of those who
are standing up to antisocial behaviour and helping deliver
a safer, stronger Scotland."
The ASB Act introduced CROs for use by the courts for
offences where there is an anti-social behaviour
element.
CROs are a low tariff order and will be confined to
summary cases - i.e. crimes of a less serious nature that
are heard without a jury in the district and sheriff
courts. They focus specifically on making reparation for
anti-social behaviour by providing 10 to 100 hours of
unpaid work.
CROs will expand the existing range of community
disposals. Existing disposals with a restorative element
are either high tariff, for example community service
orders, or designed to deal with a specific group, such as
supervised attendance orders for fine defaulters.
A statutory duty will be imposed on local authorities -
who will be responsible for supervising the order - to
consult with the appropriate local community agencies and
organisations as to the nature of the reparation undertaken
by offenders. This consultation will be on general
principles and not specific to individual cases.
Pilots are running at Inverness Sheriff and District
Courts and Kingussie and Nairn District Courts; at Dundee
Sheriff and District Courts and at Greenock Sheriff Court
and Inverclyde District Court.
They will run for two years and will be evaluated
throughout. The evaluation will inform any decision about
making the disposal available more widely.