Convener highlights successes in her final full year report

TCJA’s convener has expressed fears for the future whilst reflecting on the body’s enviable record in a Scottish context.

In her final full year annual report, Dundee councillor Bailie Helen Wright expressed frustration over the April 2017 disbanding of CJAs in favour of new arrangements which will include responsibility for the delivery of social work criminal justice services reverting fully to local councils.

Councillor Wright said: “The figures for Tayside speak for themselves; CJAs started work in 2007 and since then Tayside has recorded a reduction in the reconviction rate of 8.1% – compared with a 4.1% reduction nationally – and a reduction in the reconviction frequency rate of 33.2% compared with 14.5% nationally.”

She highlighted areas including focussed work in Perth prison involving NHS Tayside and the delivery of support to female offenders to improve their outcomes.

“In respect of community sentences, the performance of community-based disposals including Community Payback Orders (CPOs) and Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs) has been monitored and improvements are made as appropriate. Sheriffs are fully supportive and regular reports are submitted to the TCJA board.

“The CJA will continue until 2017 to work to its strengths in order to deliver better outcomes for offenders, their families, victims and communities.

“It will continue to engage positively with partners, local community planning partnerships and the Scottish Government to ensure a smooth transition process.

“I don’t know why we are going down this road. The CJAs have been very successful and we are now going to be disbanded and this one board arrangement is going to be the most frightening of all because the will be doing the commissioning.”

Councillor Helen Wright.