The Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice very much welcomes the report published today by the Scottish Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission.
The Justice that Works report sets out the need for a fundamental shift in approach, moving from an overreliance on imprisonment to one centred on rehabilitation and reducing offending. It comprehensively details the need for prevention, early intervention and diversion, alongside calling for a greater focus on community justice, and the strengthening of rehabilitation and support for those leaving custody.
The report sets out a number of key recommendations, including our call for the Whole System Approach to be extended to under 25s, and our work on making restorative justice consistently available across Scotland.
Professor Fiona Dyer, Director of CYCJ said: “We know that early intervention and community-based alternatives work to reduce harm and make our communities safer. This crucial report evidences the shortcomings of punitive responses and sets out instead the need to redirect resource to prevention and delivering meaningful rehabilitation”.
Read the full report here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/justice-works-report-scottish-sentencing-penal-policy-commission/