Justice vision and priorities delivery plan 2018-2019 and overview of progress 2017-2018

Justice Vision and Priorities

The Justice Vision and Priorities for Scotland was published in summer 2017. Developed by the Justice Board, it sets out a collective commitment to seven key priorities across our justice organisations and partners. The Vision provides an over-arching and consistent framework to which everyone across the sector can align their efforts. It also describes the justice portfolio's recent successes and current and emerging challenges, based on the available evidence. http://gov.scot/Publications/2017/07/9526 .

The Justice Vision and Priorities will provide a key contribution to a number of the new national outcomes on the National Performance Framework published in June 2018, the most critical for Justice being "We live in communities that are inclusive, empowered, resilient and safe".

A Delivery Plan was published alongside the Vision and Priorities in 2017, with a commitment to update this annually. ( http://gov.scot/Publications/2017/07/8431 ).

This Summary provides an update to the actions set out in 2017/18 and identifies new approaches and additional actions for the coming year that will help deliver our priorities.

Key Highlights 2017-18

• Work has continued to strengthen support for the victims and witnesses of crime, especially child and vulnerable witnesses, including the publication by justice agencies in April 2018 of updated Standards of Service for Victims and Witnesses in Scotland (2018-19) and the introduction to Parliament in June 2018 of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) Bill.
• We have enhanced our shared understanding of Adverse Childhood Experiences across justice and are developing future responses in close collaboration with key partners, including trauma-informed responses and training.
• Significant work is underway to improve the health of those who come into contact with the justice system, supported by a new Health and Justice Collaborative Improvement Board. Key developments include Healthcare Improvement Scotland's National Standards for Healthcare and Forensic Medical Services to improve services for victims of rape and sexual assault, collaboration to further develop Community Triage and first response pathways, and a new Programme Board on Prisoner Health and Social Care.
• The Domestic Abuse Bill was passed in February 2018 making Scotland one of the first countries in the world to criminalise psychological abuse.
• In May 2018, the Scottish police Authority ( SPA) Board approved a ten year Financial Strategy, and three year implementation and financial plans (2018/19 to 2020/21) to support the delivery of the Policing 2026 Strategy.
• The first Scottish Risk Assessment was published to support the work of the Scottish Resilience Partnership ( SRP) in December 2017.
• The Independent Review of Legal Aid concluded in February 2018 and a report was presented to Scottish Ministers. https://gov.scot/Resource/0053/00532544.pdf
• In February, the Scottish Law Commission published its 10 ^th Programme of Law Reform in Scotland setting out its priorities for 2018-2022. https://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/law-reform/tenth-programme-of-law-reform-consultation/
• Lord Bracadale's independent recommendations to Scottish Ministers on hate crime laws were published in May 2018 and SG made a commitment to consult on those recommendations in 18-19. http://gov.scot/Publications/2018/05/2988
• The Management of Offenders Bill is in progress, legislating for more extensive and consistent use of electronic monitoring of offenders, updating disclosure of convictions requirements and some changes to Parole Board appointments, membership, functions and requirements.
• Community Justice Scotland are working with local partners to implement the new model for Community Justice. Community Justice Outcome Improvement Plans ( CJOIPS) are now available for each area.
• Substantial progress has been made in in transforming the female custodial estate, with plans developed for the new Women's National Facility and the 2 Community Custody Units. Sites for the Community Custody Units in Glasgow and Dundee have now been identified.
• Four new Prison Visitor Centres opened across Scotland (now at 11 of 15 prisons), to support people visiting friends and family in prison, and reduce the negative impact on children of having an imprisoned parent.
• Penal reform continued, including the announcement to extend the presumption against short sentences to 12 months.
• SG published the Scotland's Place in Europe paper which sets out the Scottish Government's position about the importance of maintaining a close relationship with the EU in relation to security, law enforcement and criminal justice co-operation. http://gov.scot/Publications/2018/06/7437