A report examined crime and criminal justice developments in Scotland in 2004-05.
Source: Crime and Justice in Scotland 2004/05: A review of progress, Scottish Consortium on Crime & Criminal Justice (0131 669 4484)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Dec
The Scottish Parliament approved a Bill to improve the management of offenders in Scotland, through greater integration of the activities of criminal justice agencies - with the ultimate aim of reducing levels of re-offending.
Source: Management of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Text of Bill (pdf) | Explanatory notes (pdf) | Policy memorandum (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2005-Nov
A progress report was published on the first year of operation of anti-social behaviour orders in Scotland.
Source: Standing Up to Antisocial Behaviour, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SE press release
Date: 2005-Nov
The Scottish Executive published a Bill which included a range of measures to strengthen police effectiveness and improve community safety.
Source: Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Text of Bill (pdf) | Explanatory notes (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2005-Oct
An inspectorate report said that much had been achieved to develop performance management across Scotland's police forces: but further progress was required.
Source: HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland, Managing Improvement: A thematic inspection of performance management in the Scottish police service, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SE press release
Date: 2005-Sep
A report by a committee of MSPs reviewed the effectiveness of multi-agency working in the youth justice system, and assessed the impact of gaps in service provision.
Source: Inquiry into Youth Justice, 9th Report 2005, SP Paper 370, Scottish Parliament Justice 2 Committee, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Sep
An independent review into policing and race relations in Scotland found that there was ambivalence among minority ethnic communities about actively encouraging their members of to join the police.
Source: An Independent Review into Policing and Race Relations in Scotland, Commission for Racial Equality Scotland (0131 524 2000)
Links: Report (Word file) | Summary | CRE press release | SE press release
Date: 2005-Jul
A new book on policing in Scotland aimed to provide an up-to-date and authoritative account of recent developments, taking full account of the impact of devolution and the work of the Scottish Parliament.
Source: Daniel Donnelly and Kenneth Scott (eds.), Policing Scotland, Willan Publishing (01884 840337)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Jul
A report by a committee of MSPs said that a stronger statutory duty needed to be placed on Scotland's local authorities to ensure they properly cared for young offenders.
Source: Stage 1 Report on the Management of Offenders etc (Scotland) Bill, 10th Report 2005, SP Paper 372, Scottish Parliament Justice 2 Committee, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | Children Now report
Date: 2005-Jun
A Bill was introduced to improve the management of offenders in Scotland, through greater integration of the activities of criminal justice agencies - with the ultimate aim of reducing levels of re-offending.
Source: Management of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Text of Bill (pdf) | Explanatory notes (pdf) | Policy memorandum (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2005-Jun
A report examined ways of reducing the prison population in Scotland.
Source: Reducing the Prison Population: Penal policy and social choices, Scottish Consortium on Crime & Criminal Justice (0131 669 4484)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-May
A report presented findings from the first phase of a 3-year monitoring project on anti-social behaviour orders in Scotland.
Source: DTZ Pieda Consulting and Heriot Watt University, Use of Antisocial Behaviour Orders in Scotland, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Apr
A literature review examined best practice in working with offenders to reduce their re-offending.
Source: Fergus McNeill, Susan Batchelor, Ros Burnett and Jo Knox, Reducing Re-offending: Key practice skills, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Apr
A report said that re-offending on bail could be reduced in Scotland through enhanced supervision, including extending the use of electronic monitoring.
Source: Report on the Use of Bail and Remand, Sentencing Commission for Scotland (0131 244 3228)
Links: Report (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2005-Apr
The Scottish Executive began consultation on the shape, number, and operation of Scotland's new Community Justice Authorities - designed to improve the way local councils and other bodies worked together to manage offenders and tackle re-offending.
Source: Supporting Safer, Stronger Communities: Consultation on Community Justice Authorities, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2005-Apr
The Scottish Executive published a Bill designed to reduce re-offending rates, and improve the way criminal justice services managed offenders.
Source: Management of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Text of Bill (pdf) | Explanatory notes (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2005-Mar
The Scottish Executive published planned reforms to court structures and procedures, aimed at reducing crime and the fear of crime, and restoring public confidence in criminal justice services.
Source: Smarter Justice, Safer Communities: Summary justice reform - Next steps, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SE press release
Date: 2005-Mar
The Scottish Executive published a Bill to reform the licensing laws, and tackle under-age and binge drinking.
Source: Licensing (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Text of Bill (pdf) | Explanatory notes (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2005-Mar
The independent Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland published a report on the handling of race issues within the criminal justice system. The Scottish Executive said that it accepted all the recommendations.
Source: Thematic Report on Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service's Response on Race Issues, Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland, available from Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400) | Press release 21 March 2005, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report | SE press release
Date: 2005-Mar
A committee of the Scottish Parliament published a report on rehabilitation in Scotland's prisons. It raised concerns about the impact of budget savings on rehabilitation services, and criticized the attitude that little or nothing could be done with short-term prisoners.
Source: Inquiry into the Effectiveness of Rehabilitation in Prisons, 3rd Report 2005 (Session 2), SP Paper 291, Scottish Parliament Justice 1 Committee, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SP press release
Date: 2005-Feb
The Scottish Executive began consultation on proposals to strengthen police powers.
Source: Supporting Police, Protecting Communities, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2005-Feb
An audit report said that the Scottish Prison Service should assess more closely whether its skills courses and behavioural programmes for prisoners were successful in reducing re-offending rates.
Source: Correctional Opportunities for Prisoners, Audit Scotland for Accounts Commission and Auditor General (0131 477 1234)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Audit Scotland press release (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jan
