Today, Scottish Government published the new Justice Vision and Priorities and accompanying 2017-18 Delivery Plan. Through the Chief Executive’s membership of the Justice Board, SCTS is part of this shared vision and the collective commitment to seven key priorities that Government and the Justice Board are working together to address.
The Seven Key Justice Priorities are:
- We will enable our communities to be safe and supportive, where individuals exercise their rights and responsibilities
- We enable our people, economy and infrastructure to respond to major risk, recover from emergencies and adapt to emerging threats
- We will modernise civil and criminal law and the justice system to meet the needs of people in Scotland in the 21st Century
- We will work with others to improve health and wellbeing in justice settings, focusing on mental health and substance use
- We will work to quickly identify offenders and ensure responses are proportionate, just, effective and promote rehabilitation
- We will improve the experience of victims and witnesses, minimising court attendance and supporting them to give best evidence
- We will use prison only where necessary to address offending or to protect public safety, focusing on recovery and reintegration.
Eric McQueen, SCTS Chief Executive said: “This over-arching vision is ambitious and will rely on all justice organisations building on the already strong collaboration in justice and across the wider public and third sector. Our work, particularly through the Evidence and Procedure Review, to transform summary criminal business, the way we treat children and vulnerable witnesses and the modernisation of the Tribunals fully support these key priorities.”
The Justice Board provides leadership for Scotland’s justice system. Membership includes the Chief Executives, Chief Constable and senior leaders from Scottish Government, Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, Police Scotland, Scottish Police Authority, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service, Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration, Scottish Legal Aid Board, Community Justice Scotland and the Scottish Prison Service.