Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
The Bill aims to make changes to the law to try to improve the experience of victims and witnesses in the justice system. The Bill also aims to make changes to the criminal justice system to try to improve the fairness, clarity and transparency of the framework within which decisions in criminal cases are made.
The Bill was introduced on 25 April 2023.
- View the Bill on the Scottish Parliament website
- Read our response to the Criminal Justice Committee (September 2023)
- Read our Stage 1 Briefing, issued in advance of the debate in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 23 April
- Read the record of the first roundtable event held on 8 March 2024
- Read the record of the second roundtable event held on 10 April 2024
- Watch the Scottish Parliament’s Criminal Justice Committee Stage 2 evidence session on 4 December
- Read our proposed amendments for Stage 2 (December 2024)
Read our news releases about this Bill
Law Society welcomes scrapping of juryless trials proposal
The Law Society of Scotland says the Scottish Government has made the correct decision in scrapping its plans for juryless trials for sexual offences.
New Bill must not risk integrity of Scotland’s criminal justice system
The Law Society of Scotland has warned that key parts of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill could seriously undermine the integrity of Scotland’s criminal justice system.
Victims Bill amendments needed to safeguard criminal justice system
The Law Society of Scotland has urged MSPs to make further changes to proposed criminal justice legislation because of the risk of miscarriages of justice at the Stage 2 evidence session in the Scottish Parliament.