criminal justice

Evaluation of sixteen women's community justice services in Scotland

In 2013-15, the Scottish Government funded 16 projects proposed by criminal justice partners across Scotland to develop community services for women who offend. Developments were based on existing service provision and to ensure changes could be sustained locally at the end of the funding. Funding varied in amount and timeframes. Most of the projects were undertaken by local authority criminal justice social work1 (CJSW) departments with partner providers, including public and third sector agencies.

Lives sentenced. Experiences of repeated punishment

Little is known about the effects of repeated imprisonment. Very few research studies have examined how those who are punished by the criminal justice system experience and interpret their sentences. Research that does exist, like my PhD, has largely focused on one single sentence. But people who have served many sentences (in other words, who have long punishment careers), are likely not to experience criminal punishments in isolation, but in the context of their wider lives and previous sentences.

Mental health of women detained by the criminal courts

One of the ways in which the Commission monitors individuals' care and treatment is through the visits programme. It visits individuals in a range of settings throughout Scotland: at home, in hospital or in any other setting such as prisons where care and treatment is being delivered.

This report details findings from visits between May and September 2013 to 51 women who met the above criteria and makes a number of recommendations in response to these findings.

Girls and gangs

Paper that calls on the government to present a coherent, far-sighted programme to tackle the UK's gang problem. In doing so it highlights the plight of girls and young women associated with gangs, who are often marginalised in discussion of these issues.

The road from crime

Video story of Alan Weaver, a former prisoner who successfully desisted from criminal behaviour. It was produced as part of a project to share knowledge and improve understanding about why people desist from offending.