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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri

Time: 12:22 pm

Results for bail (scotland)

3 results found

Author: Orr, Skellington Kate

Title: Impact of Bail Reforms on Summary Justice Reform

Summary: The research has shown that there have been fewer bail orders granted over time. This may reflect wider summary justice system changes as well as a drop in court workloads per se. Convictions for breach have increased overall, contrary to the aim of the reforms to reduce breach. This perhaps suggests that bail is not being taken seriously by accused, though it may also reflect a tougher approach to breach on the part of justice professionals. There has, however, been some reduction in failure to appear in summary courts, though it is unclear if this numerical drop represents a proportional drop. Many repeat attendees at court were familiar with bail conditions and the consequences of breach, however, the current system of providing ‘ordinary language’ explanations in court does not seem to be offering the level of clarity required for those who have not had previous involvement in the court system. These accused welcomed the prospect of more targeted information, which may also make the system more efficient and effective. This information seems to be required on the system as a whole, not just on bail. Although, procedurally, changes to the bail appeal system were welcomed, there may be scope to further improve this specific component of the bail system by ensuring that members of the judiciary receive feedback on the quality and usefulness of the reports that they prepare. Overall, while almost all of those interviewed viewed the current system of bail as fair, they questioned its effectiveness, especially in terms of deterring future breach amongst repeat offenders.

Details: Scotland: Scottish Government Social Research, 2012. 69p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 9, 2012 at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0038/00389437.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0038/00389437.pdf

Shelf Number: 124402

Keywords:
Bail (Scotland)
Failure to Appear (Scotland)
Judicial Reform (Scotland)

Author: Wilson, Carole

Title: Supervised Bail in Scotland: Research on Use and Impact

Summary: This report outlines findings on the use and impact of supervised bail in Scotland from a research project which included analysis of operational data, economic analysis, a workshop with bail workers, surveys of the judiciary and Procurators Fiscal, and interviews with people who have been on supervised bail. The research found that, when used in ‘borderline’ remand cases, supervised bail can support accused to comply with bail conditions, and can assist them in the process of desistance, as well as having positive impact in terms of family relationships, mental health and employability. Successful completion of supervised bail was also found to encourage members of the judiciary to impose a community sentence rather than a prison sentence. The number of bail supervision orders in Scotland has declined in recent years. The research suggests that two things could increase use of supervised bail: increased awareness of, and buy-in to, supervised bail amongst police, defence agent, PFs and the judiciary; and the embedding of good processes for suitability screening of individuals for supervised bail in courts across the country.

Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Government Social Research, 2012. 31p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 29, 2012 at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0039/00390604.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0039/00390604.pdf

Shelf Number: 124756

Keywords:
Bail (Scotland)
Offender Supervision

Author: Wilson, Carole

Title: Experiences of Supervised Bail: Interview Findings

Summary: This report outlines the findings of interviews with 10 people who have been on supervised bail. These interviewees were recruited through their bail workers, so are likely to have had more positive expereinces than others who did not participate in the research. For the bailees interviewed, four things emerged as leading to a positive impact of supervised bail. First, being out in the community rather than in prison was greatly appreciated, and motivated some to comply with supervised bail. Second, having a good relationship with their supervisor – seeing them as someone who was like ‘a normal person’, someone they could talk to and ‘have a laugh’ with. Third, flexibility of timing and frequency of meetings was useful to some bailees, as was flexibility around types of support provided depending on bailee needs. Fourth, positive feedback in the form of praise and rewards during supervised bail, and in bail worker reports and from the judiciary when the case came to court. All interviewees except one talked about a positive change in their behaviour over time, and some attributed this change to supervised bail. Overall, the impact of supervised bail on the lives and behaviour of bailees varied across the sample, from being inconvenient and embarrassing, to having a profoundly positive effect on behaviour and life ambitions, and almost all bailees reporting positive effects on their lives and behaviour. This varied according to the relevance of the four factors outlined above, as well as depending on the attitude and circumstances of the bailee.

Details: London: Scottish Government Social Research, 2012. 34p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 24, 2012 at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0039/00390653.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0039/00390653.pdf

Shelf Number: 125049

Keywords:
Bail (Scotland)
Offender Management (Scotland)
Offender Supervision (Scotland)