National Community Justice Event 14th October 2024

COSLA and Community Justice Scotland co-hosted a national event targeted at Elected Members and Community Justice Scotland Board Members to discuss key challenges and opportunities in community justice. The focus was to explore Local Government’s contribution to preventing offending and reducing the prison population, including through strengthened partnership working with other community justice partners. Attendees engaged in discussions about some of the current key issues in community justice, offering perspectives on key considerations for policymakers at a national level such as informing the ongoing work to reduce the prison population and delivery of the Community Justice Strategy.

The Cabinet Secretary attended the event through a hybrid link, where she provided an overview of the key achievements and challenges currently faced in Justice. Further information was provided on upcoming proposals for Prisoner Release legislation and the ongoing to work to shift the balance from custody to community. Attendees were also provided with an opportunity to ask questions.

Conference attendees heard from partners on some of the key issues in Community Justice and took part in a Q&A panel with all presenters.
- Community Justice Scotland: An overview of the work and priorities of Community Justice Scotland followed by the voice of lived experience, navigating the care and Justice system.
- Police Scotland: Policing and Mental Health - looking at how policing, Local Government, health, and a range of partners, can collaborate to support those who have mental health needs at a time when mental health demand is increasing, and resources are stretched
- Association of Local Authority of Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO): Adhering to the (Sustainable Housing on Release for Everyone) SHORE standards to support all people leaving custody to have access to suitable housing appropriate to their needs and to avoid them falling into homelessness,
- SOLD Network and People First Scotland: Impact on people with learning disabilities who are involved in the community and criminal justice system. Bringing the voice of lived experience to identify challenges, promote opportunities, influence change and to provide support for people with learning disabilities in the justice system.

Discussions and key points pulled from the day will help inform COSLAs ongoing policy work in the Justice space and partnership work in Community Justice and addressing the rising prison population.