Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in Scotland: national overview report 2023-24

2. Justice Policy Context

The Scottish Government in its Programme for Government (2024 to 2025) sets out its four core missions which are:

(i) Eradicating Child Poverty;

(ii) Growing the Economy;

(iii) Tackling the Climate Emergency;

(iv) Ensuring High Quality and Sustainable Public Services

A number of commitments are outlined in the document^[2] including: the intention to conduct an independent review of sentencing and penal policy; to examine how both imprisonment and community interventions are used; to reduce reoffending through meaningful rehabilitation; and to keep our communities safe. A commitment was also made to improving outcomes for victims, survivors and witnesses of crime across Scotland.

The Government’s vision includes reforming the Justice system to ensure that victims and witnesses are treated compassionately and that a trauma informed approach is applied. There is also a commitment to ensure effective public protection approaches to managing those individuals who commit the most serious violent and sexual offences. Focusing on rehabilitation both in custody and in the community is the best way to reduce offending and make our communities safer. Delivery of the National Strategy for Community Justice^[3] contributes to the achievement of those aims as does the continued application of MAPPA to assess, manage and minimise the potential risks posed by the most serious offenders through collaborative working.