26 August 1991

Dear Director

SOCIAL WORK SERVICES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

100% CENTRAL GOVERNMENT FUNDED OFFENDER SERVICES

OFFENDERS’ TRAVEL EXPENSES

Summary

1. This circular sets out the circumstances determining the payment of travel expenses to offenders in accord with paragraph 131 of the Finance chapter and paragraph 51 of the Community Service chapter in the National Objectives and Standards for Social Work Services in the Criminal Justice System.

2. Offenders subject to an order or licence specified in Annex A to this circular who necessarily incur travel costs in order to comply with the instructions of their supervising officer concerning attendance at a specified time, date and place may be reimbursed these expenses subject to paragraphs 3 and 4 below.

3. Offenders who are elderly and infirm or who have a disability or temporary impairment requiring the use of public transport and who are not otherwise entitled to free transport may be refunded the cost to them of public transport by direct route from their home to the place at which they have been instructed to report and back to their home. In cases where the offender could not reasonably use public transport but has access to a motor vehicle the costs of using the vehicle, for both the inward and return journeys in excess of 3 miles, may be refunded at the rate of 32p per mile for cars and for motorcycles the rate is 20p per mile.

4. All offenders not covered in paragraph 3 above will require to make their own arrangements in respect of the first 3 miles by the shortest pedestrian route from their home to the place at which they have been instructed to report and similarly the first 3 miles back to their home. No refund of travel cost may be made in respect of this 3 miles. Offenders residing more than 3 miles from the place at which they have been instructed to report may be refunded the cost to them of public transport for any distance travelled, by the shortest route, to the reporting point in excess of 3 miles and similarly back to their home. In cases where the offender could not reasonably use public transport but has access to a motor vehicle the costs of using the vehicle, for both the inward and return journeys in excess of 3 miles, may be refunded at the rate of 32p per mile for cars and for motorcycles the rate is 20p per mile.

5. Contact Point

If you have any queries about the contents of this circular, please contact Susan Malcolm, Social Work Services Group, Room 16a, James Craig Walk, Edinburgh EH1 3BA

(Telephone: 0131-244-5439).

Yours sincerely

LESLEY CLARE

ANNEX A

Community Service Order

Probation Order

Supervised Attendance Order

Parole Licence

Life Licence

Young Offender Aftercare Licence

Any other form of release from custody on licence