Remand

At its meeting on 19 December 2017 the Committee agreed to hold a round-table evidence session on remand on 16 January 2018. The purpose of the round-table was to explore issues around the use of remand in Scotland as well as the experience of prisoners held on remand. After that session, the Committee agreed to do further work on remand.

• Minute of meeting, 16 January 2018

Evidence

The Committee took evidence on the following dates

16 January 2018

• Official Report
• Minute of Meeting

6 February 2018

• Official Report
• Minute of Meeting

13 March 2018

• Official Report
• Minute of Meeting

20 March 2018

• Official Report
• Minute of Meeting

27 March 2018

• Official Report
• Minute of Meeting

24 April 2018

• Official Report
• Minute of Meeting

The Committee published its report on 24 June 2018.

• An Inquiry into the Use of Remand in Scotland

 The following written submissions were received: 

• Anonymous 1 (148KB pdf)
• Barnardo's Scotland (258KB pdf)
• Community Justice Scotland (276KB pdf)
• Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (180KB pdf)
• Criminal Justice Voluntary Sector Forum (306KB pdf) 
• CrossReach (92KB pdf) 
• East Ayrshire Advocacy Services (226KB pdf) 
• Families Outside (86KB pdf)
• HM Inspector of Prisons for Scotland (135KB pdf)
• Hutton, Professor Neil, University of Strathclyde (74KB pdf) 
• Law Society of Scotland (193KB pdf)
• Law Society of Scotland (supplementary submission) (198KB pdf) 
• Police Scotland (99KB pdf)
• Prison Reform Trust (505KB pdf) 
• Prison Reform Trust and the Scottish Working Group on Women's Offending (193KB pdf)
• Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (190KB pdf)
• Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (supplementary submission) (557KB pdf) 
• Scottish Prison Service (134KB pdf)
• Scottish Prison Service (supplementary submission) (451KB pdf) 
• Senators of the College of Justice (87KB pdf)
• Shelter Scotland (154KB pdf) 
• Sheriffs' Association (178KB pdf)
• Sheriffs' Association (supplementary submission) (64KB pdf) 
• Social Work Scotland (299KB pdf)
• Tayside Council on Alcohol (supplementary information) (267KB pdf)
• Turning Point Scotland (321KB pdf) 
• Victim Support Scotland (68KB pdf)

The Committee sought information from all local authorities in Scotland on the availability of services to support the use of bail, as well as the availability of support to mitigate the possible negative effects of remand on both prisoners and their families. Responses received can be found below.

• Aberdeenshire Council (223KB pdf)
• Angus Council (57KB pdf)
• City of Edinburgh Council (88KB pdf)
• Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar (110KB pdf)
• Dumfries and Galloway Council (76KB pdf)
• Falkirk Council (81KB pdf)
• Fife Council (121KB pdf)
• Glasgow City Council (134KB pdf)
• Highland Council (98KB pdf) 
• North Ayrshire Council (95KB pdf)
• North Lanarkshire Council (8KB pdf)
• Scottish Borders Council (186KB pdf)
• Shetland Islands Council (68KB pdf)
• South Lanarkshire Council (114KB pdf)
• Stirling Council (68KB pdf)

Correspondence

• Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice to the Convener (1 February 2018) (919KB pdf)
• Letter from Community Justice Scotland to the Convener (23 August 2018) (143KB pdf) 

Report

The Committee published its report to the Parliament on 24 June 2018.

• An Inquiry into the Use of Remand in Scotland

The Scottish Government responded to the report on 28 August 2018

• Scottish Government Response (5MB pdf)