Community justice national strategy seeks shift away from custody

A "decisive shift" in the balance between community and custodial sentences is targeted in the Scottish Government's National Strategy for Community Justice, published today.

The paper sets out how ministers propose to deliver the partnership between justice agencies to support reintegration of offenders into the community and prevent reoffending, through the new Community Justice Scotland body that will take on its full functions from 1 April 2017.

Strategy will be based on the principles of holding people to account for their offences, recognising the impact on victims and society; reintegration; early intervention to prevent offending; partnership working; and person centred services, with evidence based interventions. The shift away from custody will be achieved by increasing the use of community-based interventions and reducing the use of short term custodial sentences.

Separate documents set out the Outcomes, Performance and Improvement Framework, and Guidance for Local Partners.