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SMARTER JUSTICE, SAFER COMMUNITIES
SUMMARY JUSTICE REFORM - NEXT STEPS >>>
MINISTERIAL FOREWORD
When I
launched the Criminal Justice Plan I said that
'Scotland is set upon the most radical reform of its
criminal justice system for more than a
generation.'
We need to get the best out of our justice system - it
must provide speedy appropriate responses to tackle
offending before a cycle of reoffending is established. We
have already outlined our proposals for better management
of sentenced offenders, but it is equally important to
ensure that the business leading up to the point when an
offender is sentenced is conducted effectively.
And promoting effectiveness is only part of the agenda.
We must focus on the reason for the existence of the
justice system - to provide appropriate responses to
offending behaviour. We need to ensure that communities are
safe whilst making a difference to the offender. It is only
through effective engagement with communities that we can
develop a system which will tackle offending effectively
and promote public confidence.
This document outlines our plans for reforming summary
criminal justice and procedure. Although it deals with less
serious offences than the High Court, summary justice
accounts for 96% of criminal court business - over 130,000
cases every year. The vast majority of offenders and
offences are dealt with by the summary justice system - if
it is slow, the whole system becomes slow; if it does not
deter reoffending minor offenders will move onto more
serious crime; and if it does not engage with communities
about the everyday issues affecting them those communities
will feel let down by the system.
That is why we asked Sheriff Principal John McInnes and
a committee of experienced professionals to review the
operation of the system. The Summary Justice Review
Committee's report was published on 16 March 2004 and we
are indebted to the Committee for raising a number of key
issues and proposing change. We have consulted fully on the
report's recommendations and discussed the issues raised
widely.
Our vision is of a summary justice system that:
- is faster and more visible to the communities it
serves;
- works across organisations effectively and
efficiently;
- tackles lower level offending quickly and
appropriately, leading to reductions in reoffending;
and
- involves and engages with communities to ensure
that their concerns are addressed.
We have considered what the 'McInnes Committee' proposed
and will implement many of its recommendations. We have
also listened to what consultees, stakeholders and
communities had to say - their contributions have
significantly shaped the proposals outlined in this
document. Our reforms to summary justice are ambitious and
far-reaching and will help us realise our vision. We will
bring forward legislation in the lifetime of this
Parliament to deliver improvements that require changes in
the law. And we will continue to involve the key
stakeholders as we develop and implement change - together
we will work in the interests of justice to create safer,
stronger communities.
Cathy Jamieson MSP
Minister for Justice March 2005
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