| 1. Introduction |
| |
| 1.1 Section
306 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995
requires the Secretary of State for Scotland, amongst
other things, to publish information enabling people
engaged in the administration of criminal justice to
become aware of the financial implications of their
decisions. |
| |
| 1.2 The
first part of this publication aims to provide simple
information about some of the costs of the criminal
justice system. It includes the distribution of total
expenditure, costs of various disposals, costs of
different types of court case, expenditure on prosecution
and Criminal Legal Aid by type of case and information on
sheriff court income from fines. The second part provides
profiles of sentencing practice in the district and
sheriff courts. |
| |
| 1.3 As well
as providing information on the financial implications of
sentencing decisions, the sentencing profiles are
intended to make sentencing information more widely
available to assist in improving clarity and consistency
in sentencing practice. |
| |
| 1.4 Comments
on the information provided, or suggestions for further
information which might be included in future documents
will be very welcome. They should be sent to Paul
Stephenson, Criminal Justice Division, Home Department,
The Scottish Office, W(1) Spur, Saughton House,
Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh, EH11 3XD. |
| |
Section 306
Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 |
| (1) The
Secretary of State shall in each year publish such
information as he considers expedient for the purpose of- |
| |
| (a)
enabling persons engaged in the administration of
criminal justice to become aware of the financial
implications of their decisions; or |
| |
| (b)
facilitating the performance by such persons of their
duty to avoid discriminating against any persons on the
ground of race or sex or any other improper ground. |
| |
| (2)
Publication under subsection (1) above shall be effected
in such manner as the Secretary of State considers
appropriate for the purpose of bringing the information
to the attention of the persons concerned. |
