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National Objectives for Social Work Services in the Criminal Justice System: Standards - Community Service
CHAPTER 1: OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
1The main objectives for Community Service by Offenders are:
1.1to provide Scottish criminal courts with a credible community based penalty, by requiring those found guilty of imprisonable offences and who would otherwise have received a sentence of imprisonment or detention to undertake paid work for a specified number of hours for the community;
1.2to seek to ensure that Community Service is only recommended and used where other community based disposals for dealing with the offender are not appropriate;
1.3to seek to ensure that Community Service as a requirement of a Probation Order is only recommended and used where neither a Probation Order (with or without other additional requirements) nor a Community Service order is considered to be the most effective response;
1.4to ensure that Community Service Schemes are organised and managed as an integral part of the social work services provided by local authorities to the criminal justice system, offenders and their families and victims of crime, in collaboration with other social service agencies;
1.5to ensure that a sufficient number and range of work placements are provided to meet the expected demand from courts in each areas;
1.6to seek to ensure that Community Service Schemes are characteristic by the following:
1.6.1partnership with local communities in the provision of work opportunities and placement agencies;
1.6.2a range of agencies offering placements which are seen to be of value to the community, the agency and the offender alike;
1.6.3a range of placements within the capacity of the offender and capable of enhancing his/her social responsibility and self-respect;
1.6.4a sufficient range of placements, suited to the particular needs and requirements of groups such as women (including those who are pregnant), people who are disabled, and single parents;
1.6.5clear, realistic, but challenging standards of behaviour and work.
1.6.6good quality supervision; including rapid follow-up of absenteeism and poor standards of punctuality and work effort, and consistent and timeous application of sanctions and non-compliance;
1.6.7access to advice and help with personal, domestic or family problems which might interfere with the successful completion of the court order; and
1.6.8close working relationships with the judiciary and other court officials, including clear and timely procedures for dealing with breach and other forms of review.
1.7to ensure that Community Service Schemes have sufficient appropriate staff, suitable accommodation, and other resources to meet the demands made on them by the courts;
1.8to ensure that Community Service Schemes are managed and further developed in a manner which is consistent with local and national standards and results in a service which is credible and fair in the eyes of courts, local communities, and offenders alike.
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