Justice services
Justice services
Definition
Criminal justice social work services deliver effective assessment and management of offenders within the community whilst contributing to community safety.
Objectives are:
- To identify those offenders most at risk of harm either to themselves or others at risk of re-offending.
- To identify whether or not a community based management plan could support these offenders in the community both to reduce the risk of harm and the risk of re-offending.
- To carry out work within the framework of the National Objectives and Standards for Criminal Justice Social Work Services and produce agreed qualitative improvements.
- To ensure that programmed work addresses victim issues and that it is informed by the impact of crime on individuals and the community.
- To contribute to the rehabilitation of offenders.
Key areas:
- Assessment and case management
- Diversion from prosecution
- Community service by offenders
- Supervised attendance orders
- Throughcare
- Court services (including bail)
- Woman offenders
- Young offenders
- Sex offenders
- Domestic abuse
- Mentally disordered offenders
- Substance misuse
- Criminal justice services and housing
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Training
- Services for victims, survivors and families affected by crime
Policies and Legislation
- Women Offenders: A Safer Way – A Review of Community Disposals and the Use of Custody for Women Offenders in Scotland
Useful Links
- The Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research
- Criminal Justice Social Work Development Centre for Scotland
- Scottish Consortium on Crime and Criminal Justice
- Howard League for Penal Reform
- British Journal of Criminology
- Scottish Victims of Crime
Association of Social Care Communicators 