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ANNEX 3 INTERVIEW SCHEDULE GUIDELINES

Name………………………… Post………………………. Date…………

The Social Work Research Centre of the University of Stirling has been commissioned by the Scottish Executive to undertake an evaluation of the use of electronic monitoring as a condition of bail in 4 pilot courts. The aims of the research are to ascertain the extent to which EM bail will reduce the prison population and will be cost-effective in comparison to other forms of bail. We are interviewing various stakeholders over the next few months and all information received during these interviews will remain confidential. We would like to tape record our conversation, if you are agreeable, but any quotes used in the report will be anonymised. The interview will take approximately 30 minutes and the topics covered include issues relating to the setting up and running of the pilots, legislation relating to EM bail and breach procedures.

1. Can you tell me how long you have been in post and what your role is?
2. To what extent and how are you involved in the piloting of EM bail?
3. What do you consider to be the aims and objectives of the pilots? How appropriate do you think these are?
4. Can you tell me about the processes you go through when an application for EM bail is made? How does this compare with standard bail applications?
5. How satisfied are you with the procedures and timescales for requesting suitability reports, and with the quality of those reports?
6. How satisfied are you with the timescales for EM bail more generally, in terms of applications, appeals, sentencing and disposal?
7. What are your overall impressions of compliance with the conditions of EM bail? How does this compare with compliance of standard bail?
8. How is breach of EM bail dealt with? How does this compare with breach of standard bail?
9. What is the likely impact of EM bail on sentencing and length of sentence?
10. How confident are you with EM bail in relation to: increasing public safety; reducing offending; reducing intimidation of witnesses; and ensuring due legal process? How does this compare with standard bail?
11. In your view, what are the advantages or disadvantages of EM bail compared with standard bail or remand in custody?
12. Have there been any difficulties for you in relation to EM bail, for example, workload or operational matters?
13. Can you comment on the relatively low numbers of EM bail orders granted to date?
14. Could you comment on the extent and quality of inter-agency cooperation with respect to EM bail in this area?
15. Have you had specific training in relation to EM bail? How useful was that training and what further training needs might you have?
16. Are there any particular factors in the catchment area of this court that help or hinder the process of EM bail?
17. How easy has it been to apply/administer this new measure?
18. Do you think EM bail is a successful and strict alternative to custody?
19. Do you think the scheme overall has been a success?
20. Would you like to see any changes or improvements made to the operation of EM bail in the future?
21. Do you think any changes need to be made to the legislation relating to EM bail?
22. Are the guidelines in the procedure manual adequate for the purposes of EM bail?
23. In your view, are there any legal/ethical issues relating to EM bail?
24. Are you aware of any media coverage of the pilots in this area?
25. Do you think EM bail should be rolled out nationally in the future and if so, what are the implications?
26. Is there anything else that we haven't touched on that might be relevant?
27. Other issues:

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