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COSLA report criticizes single Corrections Agency idea
Thursday, November 20, 2003
“Prison plan criticised: Fresh opposition to the Executive’s plans for a single Correctional Agency emerged yesterday. . .” Scotsman
“Legal expert’s warning over Criminal Justice”. Scottish TV
More on this later. MM
Posted by MM on Thu 20th Nov 2003 at 1:42 pmCriminal justice reform Criminal Justice Social Work
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New powers to sieze trafficker’s assets approved in draft
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
“New laws to confiscate slave traders? assets: White Slave traders will be stripped of their ill-gotten gains under a crack down proposed by the Scottish Executive. Judges are to be given new powers to confiscate the assets of ?Mr Bigs? who profit from trafficking people for prostitution or the production of obscene or indecent material. . .” Courier
Press Release
“Moves to seize traffickers’ criminal assets: Anyone found to be trafficking people for prostitution or pornography in Scotland will get their ill-gotten gains stripped from them under new moves by the Executive to crack down on crime. . .” Scot. Exec.
See also:
The draft Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Amendment (Scotland) Order 2003. Note by the Clerk to the Justice 1 Committee on draft Order for approval at today’s meeting. (13th Meeting 2003 (Session 2)).
Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003
Posted by MM on Wed 19th Nov 2003 at 9:46 pmSentencing Asset recovery
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Plastic beats glass
“Takeaways face glass bottle ban: Glasgow City Council has decided to make it a condition of future late opening catering licenses that shops must not sell food and drink in glass containers - but stick to plastic bottles or cans. . .” BBC
“Glass attacks plummet as city clubs go for plastic: Serious assaults with glasses and bottles have fallen by more than 40% since a campaign was launched in Glasgow. . .” Evening Times
“Glass bottles banned from late take-aways: Every late night take-away in Glasgow is to be banned from selling glass drink bottles in an attempt to cut down on violent attacks. . .” Herald
Posted by MM on Wed 19th Nov 2003 at 9:26 pmCrime Prevention Drugs and alcohol
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HMP Perth Inspection Report
“Perth Conditions a Disgrace, says report:” Press and Journal
“Overcrowding at prison highlighted: Some areas of Perth Prison are overcrowded by up to 50%, according to a report published by Scotland?s chief inspector of prisons. In a follow-up report, Andrew McLellan also notes that conditions in C-Hall, which include slopping out and cell-sharing, ?remain a disgrace.?. . .” Courier
“Slopping out at Perth Prison a ‘disgrace’:” Scottish TV
“Jail overcrowding concerns: A report by Scotland’s chief inspector of prisons has highlighted a significant overcrowding problem at Perth jail [. . .] Slopping out and overcrowding in C Hall were branded a disgrace. . .“ BBC
“Crowding creating strain on Perth jail:” Evening Telegraph
Report
HMIP HMP Perth Inspection 25-27 June 2003
Press Release
“Perth Prison report : ?Perth Prison, like a growing number of other establishments, has a significant overcrowding problem?, Scotland?s Chief Inspector of Prisons, Andrew McLellan said today on publication of his HMCIP report. . .” Scot. Exec.
Posted by MM on Wed 19th Nov 2003 at 9:18 pmPrisons and prisoners Inspection reports
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Sentencing Commission: membership
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
“Line-up for sentencing watchdog is unveiled: Evening News
Press Release
“Sentencing Commission membership announced: The men and women charged with tackling the public’s ongoing concerns about sentencing have been named today. The full membership of the new Sentencing Commission for Scotland was announced by the Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson. Lord MacLean has already been appointed as Chair.
The Commission, a key priority of the Scottish Executive Partnership Agreement, will initially examine the early release of prisoners from our jails and their subsequent supervision, and the effectiveness of the use of bail and remand in ensuring public safety. . .” Scot. Exec.
Also:
Respect, Responsibility and Rehabilitation in Modern Scotland Apex Lecture. First Minister Jack McConnell. September 16, 2003
A Partnership for a Better Scotland: Partnership Agreement
Posted by MM on Tue 18th Nov 2003 at 9:13 pm
Sentencing Sentencing reform
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Columnists on crime
?Crime and punishment: There is not much serious crime in the West Highlands and Islands. For all the national publicity given recently to some shocking police investigations, we are still lucky enough to live in the most law-abiding communities in Britain.
Perhaps, contrarily, for that very reason, we live also in an area where local courts traditionally hand down some of the most stringent penalties for comparatively minor crimes [. . .] Britain already imprisons more of its citizens than any other European country. There is no need for the Highlands and Islands, of all regions, to add to that unhappy record in such a monotonous and utterly unproductive way. . .“ West Highland Free Press. Editorial
?Bargains at the great crime supermarket: [. . .] we seem to have lost the knack of identifying the offenders and working out what to do with them. The criminal justice “system” (a misnomer if ever there was one) increasingly resembles a jumble of supermarket special offers [. . .] Ms Jamieson and Mr Davis are looking through the wrong end of the telescope. It?s not the hardened criminals we should be worrying about but the fledgling ones.
At present, the only arresting sight is the politicians? increasingly desperate attempts to grab headlines. . .” Scotsman. Comment
?Bringing out the hangers and floggers: Here’s a proposal for all of us to consider over the festive period. Why don’t we bring back the stocks? This is a very effective and efficient, not to mention cheap, method of dealing with ne’erdowells. . .” Herald. Comment.
Posted by MM on Tue 18th Nov 2003 at 1:53 pm
Courts Sentencing
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Reform of offender services
Monday, November 17, 2003
“Scottish justice: Cathy Jamieson puts the case for progressive reform of the Scottish justice system. The Scottish Executive’s partnership agreement sets out a sustained programme of work to achieve the most ambitious, radical and resolute overhaul of Scotland’s criminal justice system in a generation. . .” Morning Star 19.11.03
“Crime tsar and tagging signal new strategy in justice war: Failure to prevent re-offending prompts ?radical? overhaul. The ?most ambitious, radical and resolute overhaul of Scotland?s criminal justice system in a generation? was launched yesterday and includes plans for electronic tagging of released prisoners, the possible appointment of a re-offenders ?tsar? and new deterrents to cut crime.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson admitted that the current system is not working. Re-offending rates remain too high, despite a combined 45% increase in spending on prisons and criminal justice social workers over the last decade. The status quo is not an option, she said.
Jamieson said yesterday that most members of the public would be ?staggered? to learn that no organisation existed in Scotland that was dedicated to reducing re-offending, despite the fact that seven out of 10 of those released from jail re-offend within four years. . .“ Sunday Herald
“Criminals to be tagged: Thousands of offenders will be tagged on their release from jail under plans being considered by ministers to reduce reoffending rates. . .” Scotsman
“Tagging scheme aims to cut re-offending: Prisoners at risk of committing further crime after their release could be electronically tagged under a radical scheme to reduce re-offending. . .“ Scotsman
“Justice reforms will ?do what it takes? to cut reoffending: Radical reform to toughen the criminal justice system would go “as far as it takes” to cut reoffending, even if that meant a dramatic increase in the use of electronic tagging and the creation of a centralised corrections agency, the justice minister said yesterday. . .“ Herald
“Prisoners to be tagged on release” Sunday Mail
“Tagging plan for released prisoners: Minsters hope the plan will help stop criminals reoffending. Prisoners could be electronically tagged when they leave jail under radical attempts to reduce re-offending levels. Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson has admitted the policy is being considered as part of a range of measures aimed at helping criminals change their behaviour. . .” BBC
“Plans to electronically tag prisoners: Prisoners could be electronically tagged once they leave jail, under radical plans to cut re-offending. . .” Scottish TV
“Overhaul for Justice System: The Scottish Executive has promised the most ambitious and radical overhaul of the justice system in a generation. Plans include electronic tagging of released prisoners and the creation of a new “re-offenders tsar”. . .” Grampian TV
“Electronic tagging plan for ‘risky’ prisoners” Daily Telegraph
“Freed prisoners face tags to halt reoffending” Sunday Times
Posted by MM on Mon 17th Nov 2003 at 2:20 pmCriminal justice reform Criminal Justice Social Work Prisons and prisoners Sentencing Sentencing reform
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UK Supreme Court: Executive response
Media
“Ministers back supreme court: There has been concern that a new court could threaten Scots law. Ministers have given their backing to Westminster plans for a new supreme court which would take over the judicial functions of the House of Lords.
Justice minister Cathy Jamieson said the proposed court would respect “the unique nature” of the Scottish justice system. . .“ BBC
Press Release
“Response to consultation on supreme court:
The Executive today [14/11/2003] issued its response to the Department for Constitutional Affairs consultation on constitutional reforms, including the setting up of a UK Supreme Court to replace the House of Lords sitting as an appeal court. . .“ Scot. Exec.
Full Text
Constitutional Reform; Scottish Executive Response: “The Scottish Executive welcomes the proposals [. . .] The Executive agree that the right of appeal to the House of Lords on civil matters has served the Scottish justice system well. A tradition of high quality and durable decisions has built up in a way which has ensured valued and valuable consistency throughout the UK. The Executive see no reason to upset the current balance.
Equally, the Executive do not believe that there is any need to modify current rights of appeal
in relation to criminal matters to give the new UK Supreme Court jurisdiction in those
respects simply for the sake of consistency. There are considerable differences between the
systems of criminal law in Scotland and England. The current system has served the Scottish
justice system well. . .”
Courts
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Crime prevention: camera phones
“Police to shoot first ? with camera phones: Police across Scotland are to be issued with camera phones under a pioneering crime-fighting plan. A pilot scheme using the latest mobile phone technology to catch graffiti artists and vandals has proved so successful that officers are now looking to use the devices to combat a range of crimes. . .” Sunday Times
Posted by MM on Mon 17th Nov 2003 at 1:55 pmCrime Prevention Police
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Scottish police not for hire
“Police officers for hire plan ruled out: Plans to allow community groups to hire police officers on their local beat are not being considered in Scotland, according to Scottish Executive sources last night. . .“ Herald
Posted by MM on Mon 17th Nov 2003 at 1:42 pm
Police
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