The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Group to look at alternatives to prison sentences
JUSTICE: Justice secretary announces new body in bid to improve communitybased options for punishments
Scotland’s justice secretary has formed a group of experts to try to improve community-based alternatives to prison.
Humza Yousaf has announced the 20 experts – drawn from the police, community groups, criminal justice organisations and local councils – will meet for the first time today.
They will work on ways to strengthen community justice and custodial alternatives while trying to demonstrate how they can support rehabilitation of convicts and reduce reoffending.
It follows the passing of an extension to the presumption against short prison sentences by the Scottish Parliament in July, with judges being encouraged to hand out communitybased punishments rather than prison sentences of less than a year.
Mr Yousaf said: “Our goal is to change attitudes and support a wider cultural shift that goes beyond simply increasing the proportion of sentences served in the community.
“We need to strengthen delivery and improve confidence in community justice interventions at every stage – from pre-prosecution through to court and post-sentencing, including helping people leaving prison.
“Clear leadership is required at every level, bringing together the important work already taking place across justice and other services to prevent offending and victimisation.
“Parliament’s backing for the extension of Scotland’s presumption against short prison sentences showed there is already considerable consensus around our evidence-led approach to preventing reoffending.”
Kelly Parry, communities and wellbeing spokeswoman for local authority body Cosla, will co-chair the National Community Justice Leadership Group alongside the justice secretary.
She said: “Most people understand the difficult circumstances of those who get into trouble with the law and many would consider alternatives to prison if that would reduce the chances of reoffending.
“I welcome the greater emphasis on community alternatives to custody as an alternative which is likely to be more effective.”
Other members of the group include Karyn McCluskey, chief executive of Community Justice Scotland; John Watt, chairman of the Parole Board for Scotland, and Colin McConnell, chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service.