Background
Unification of the administration of the summary courts, which deal with 96% of all criminal court cases, is an important step in delivering an efficient and effective summary justice system. It will be achieved by giving the Scottish Courts Service, an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government Justice Department, responsibility for the administration of all courts.
Unification will create a single, clearly identifiable agency responsible for the administration of all courts - making it easier for criminal justice agencies to work effectively together.
The benefits of unification are:
- consistent planning and delivery of good quality court services across Scotland by a single service provider - Scottish Courts Service;
- a single set of procedures and a single IT system;
- a system whose organisation is more transparent and more accountable;
- increased flexibility in the use of court resources;
- scope to implement improvements in practice quickly and effectively; and
- facilitating more effective fine enforcement.
A consultation Paper: Summary Justice Reform - Delivering a United Courts Administration - Sheriffdom of Glasgow and Strathkelvin was published on the 12th May.
Comments are invited by 12 August 2008 and should be sent to