Written Question · S5W-19364 · Session 5
What action it is taking to improve community sentences, in light of reports that a third of community payback orders are not completed and…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve community sentences, in light of reports that a third of community payback orders are not completed and a third of work placements took more than the maximum seven days to commence.
The answer
The Scottish Government’s shift towards more community sentencing has helped bring Scotland’s reconviction rates to a 19-year low.
Local authorities are responsible for delivering community sentences, including ensuring Community Payback Orders (CPOs) are commenced within recommended timescales and completed. The Scottish Government is funding criminal justice social work at record levels, which supports local authorities to deliver robust and effective community sentences. In 2018-19, we increased the additional funding allocated to local authorities for community sentences from £4 million to £5.5 million.
Completion rates for CPOs have increased from 62% in 2006-07 to 67% in 2016-17. The Scottish Government is working with local authorities and partners including Social Work Scotland, Community Justice Scotland and the Care Inspectorate to support further improvements. For example, we have asked the Care Inspectorate to lead on scrutiny and assurance activity of community justice and criminal justice social work in Scotland. Inspections will focus on criminal justice social work services, with an emphasis on CPOs.
The National Outcomes and Standards for Social Work Services in the Criminal Justice System: Community Payback Orders contains guidance on procedures and practice in the implementation of CPOs. The Scottish Government is currently updating this guidance, in collaboration with practitioners and other key stakeholders, in particular in relation to breach and compliance. The revised guidance will be published by early 2019.
Analysis of Criminal Justice Social Work statistics informs the Scottish Government’s engagement with local authorities on performance, and local community justice partnerships help drive improvements in local authority areas. In addition, Community Justice Scotland will lay an annual report in Parliament on the delivery of CPOs across Scotland, based on local authority returns.
Local authorities are responsible for delivering community sentences, including ensuring Community Payback Orders (CPOs) are commenced within recommended timescales and completed. The Scottish Government is funding criminal justice social work at record levels, which supports local authorities to deliver robust and effective community sentences. In 2018-19, we increased the additional funding allocated to local authorities for community sentences from £4 million to £5.5 million.
Completion rates for CPOs have increased from 62% in 2006-07 to 67% in 2016-17. The Scottish Government is working with local authorities and partners including Social Work Scotland, Community Justice Scotland and the Care Inspectorate to support further improvements. For example, we have asked the Care Inspectorate to lead on scrutiny and assurance activity of community justice and criminal justice social work in Scotland. Inspections will focus on criminal justice social work services, with an emphasis on CPOs.
The National Outcomes and Standards for Social Work Services in the Criminal Justice System: Community Payback Orders contains guidance on procedures and practice in the implementation of CPOs. The Scottish Government is currently updating this guidance, in collaboration with practitioners and other key stakeholders, in particular in relation to breach and compliance. The revised guidance will be published by early 2019.
Analysis of Criminal Justice Social Work statistics informs the Scottish Government’s engagement with local authorities on performance, and local community justice partnerships help drive improvements in local authority areas. In addition, Community Justice Scotland will lay an annual report in Parliament on the delivery of CPOs across Scotland, based on local authority returns.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S5W-19364 by reference.