What the current average length of time is for an appeal against a conviction for (a) serious assault, (b) rape, (c) culpable homicide and …

Answered Asked by Lord James Douglas-Hamilton Con Lodged 2 Sep 2002

The question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average length of time is for an appeal against a conviction for (a) serious assault, (b) rape, (c) culpable homicide and (d) murder to be heard and what action it is taking to speed up this process.

The answer

Answered by Jim Wallace on 16 Sep 2002 · 14 days after it was lodged, on time

The latest figures are as follows:Average Duration of Appeals Against Conviction, by Main Offence, 2000Main Offence | Number of Concluded Appeals | Average Duration of Appeal (Days)
Serious assault1 | 56 | 269
Rape | 8 | 421
Culpable homicide | 3 | 177
Murder | 18 | 256
All crimes and offences | 432 | 185
Source: SEJD criminal appeals database.Note:1. Includes serious assault and attempted murder.Data for appeals concluded in 2001 will be published on 26 September.The Lord Justice-General and Lord Justice-Clerk issued a consultation paper on 14 May 2002 setting out their proposals for reducing delays in criminal appeals. These proposals have now largely been enacted by way of an Act of Adjournal. We propose to take forward one aspect requiring primary legislation by an amendment to the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill.

In the Official Report

1 contribution mention S1W-28830

18 Sep 2002

Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton Con Plenary

Not necessarily. As I said, the matter will require clarification in committee. We want to know a great deal more about it and we do not feel that we have had satisfactory responses to date. There is also a proposal to set up a risk manage…