Reducing re-offending and structural change in the delivery of criminal justice social work in Scotland

Abstract

After an extensive consultation, the Scottish Executive recently published its strategy to reduce re-offending. A key component is the reorganization of the ‘Tough Option’ local authority groupings established in 2002 into eight Community Justice Authorities (CJA). With the appointment of a chief officer, directly accountable to Scottish ministers for the delivery of a local offender management plan, there is a real opportunity for criminal justice social work services (CJSWS) to build on, and learn from, Tough Option. It is crucial that CJAs use the new legislation to radically overhaul delivery of CJSW by increasingly transferring resources into the CJA and taking direct responsibility for service delivery. This article sets out the background to the consultation, outlines the proposed changes and suggests how these could lead to more effective CJSW services.