South Strathclyde idea cuts sentencing diet COVID risks

Court safety and efficiency in the Sheriffdom of South Strathclyde, Dumfries & Galloway has been improved by a cross-justice initiative to deliver reports on offenders earlier, it was claimed today. 

The move sees criminal justice and good behaviour reports provided securely by the local authority social work departments and the Crown, 48 hours in advance of cases calling. This enables certain hearings to be dealt with administratively by a sheriff, saving the prosecution, defence and accused from having to attend court unnecessarily.

Previously, in most cases, these reports were not available until the morning of a hearing, and solicitors often required to discuss the reports with their clients at, or outside, the court building. Now they can receive the reports via a secure email address, in time to take instructions before coming to court.

Reports covered by the initiative include criminal justice social work reports, community payback order reviews, drug treatment testing order reviews, structured deferred sentence reports and good behaviour reports. 

The scheme also enables deferred sentences to be dealt with more efficiently and conveniently. Where an offender has been of good behaviour or there is a positive report, the sheriff can consider the matter in chambers in advance of the diet and admonish or fix a further diet/review administratively without the need for the accused, prosecution or defence to attend. If a report is not available and the sheriff is satisfied of the reasons, the hearing can be continued administratively.

Since the initiative began on 20 January, more than 200 cases have been dealt with administratively.

Aisha Anwar, Sheriff Principal of South Strathclyde, Dumfries & Galloway commented: "The courts are working hard to keep footfall within our buildings to a minimum to ensure the safety of all participants during the ongoing coronavirus restrictions.

"This initiative is another great example of collaboration across the justice sector agencies. The arrangements are working well to reduce the numbers attending court and to improve the efficiency of how our business is conducted.

"I would like to thank all those across the justice system, particularly the local authorities, who have worked together to make this happen."

A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council and North Lanarkshire Council social work departments said: "We have been working in partnership with our court colleagues on this project. Because they have been providing maximum notice of report requests, we have been able to produce court reports 48 hours earlier than would otherwise be the case."

Euan Terras, Dean of the Ayrshire Faculty, added: "The safety and wellbeing for all who are having to attend court just now is paramount and so I welcome this initiative which will reduce the amount of unnecessary visits to the courts by solicitors and their clients."