Working together to Strengthen Community Justice
Chairs Foreword
As Chair of the Community Justice East Dunbartonshire (CJED) partnership, it is my pleasure to present the third Community Justice Outcomes Improvement Plan (CJOIP).
The report fulfils a duty to the Scottish Government and Community Justice Scotland to report on how community justice will be implemented in East Dunbartonshire.
The purpose of the plan is to bring statutory and non-statutory partners, to work collectively and creatively with people and communities to improve the lives of everyone affected by offending behaviour by addressing their identified needs and helping to create safer communities
Offending and reoffending are complex issues that can have a major impact on communities, victims of crime, people with convictions and their families. Achieving a reduction in offending behaviour is undeniably challenging, nevertheless, the likelihood of success increases when a range of common issues: substance misuse, insecure accommodation, financial insecurity, relationship breakdown is effectively addressed.
The CJOIP identifies the local priority themes that will help us achieve this and most importantly, the arrangements we are going to introduce or develop to deliver these whilst continuing to build on the firm base that we have established over the last 6 years since the inception of the new model for Community Justice.
Caroline Sinclair
Chief Officer HSCP/Chief Social Work Officer
and
Chair Community Justice East Dunbartonshire
You will find further information on the following:
What do we mean by Community Justice
How will we deliver this Outcome Improved Plan?
National Aims and Outcomes
As a partnership
How does it all fit together
Who are Community Justice East Dunbartonshire?
What are our Governance Arrangements?
Optimise the use of diversion and intervention at the earliest opportunity
Ensure that robust and high-quality community interventions and public protection arrangements are consistently available across Scotland
Ensure that services are accessible and available to address the needs of individuals accused or convicted of an offence
Strengthen the leadership, engagement, and partnership working of local and national community justice partners
Setting Priorities
What could affect the partnership in the future?
Equalities Statement
Participation Statement
Glossary of Terms
What do we mean by Community Justice
What is Community Justice?
Community justice is principally about organisations working together to ensure that people who have offended address the underlying causes of their behaviour and pay back to the community where appropriate. It aims to encourage rehabilitation, reduce reoffending, and protect the public, leading to fewer victims and safer communities.
This requires a strong partnership working approach at each point of the justice system, from the point of arrest, through to integration into the community.
Public protection remains our priority, with robust risk management systems in place to ensure that, where appropriate, those who have committed offences can be managed safely and effectively in the community. In the long term, our ambition is to use prison only for those who pose a risk of serious harm.
A legal definition of ‘community justice’ is provided in Section 1 of the Community Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 (the Act) [opens in a new window].
Why Community Justice?
The evidence shows that community justice interventions help people to stop breaking the law and lead to higher rehabilitation rates, fewer victims, and safer communities. Where people are supported and helped to address the determinants of their offending behaviour, stay connected to, or build a connection with their communities, local support networks and personal relationships, then the evidence shows we create a more effective and fair justice system, fewer victims, and lower rates of re-offending. Whether challenging stigma; health inequalities; employing people with convictions, or participating in community justice planning, improving community justice outcomes will require the involvement and support of local people, communities, local services, and businesses. It is vital that this includes victims of crime, people who have committed offences, families, and the bodies that represent their communities.
We need to make our residents aware that prison remains the appropriate outcome for people who have committed serious offences, and for those who deserve to be there, however this isn’t a good way to address reoffending and the revolving door syndrome.
How will we Deliver this Outcome Improvement Plan?
Our overall aim is to support the successful delivery of the Vision for Justice [opens in a new window] and the National Strategy for Community Justicee [opens in a new window], (hereafter the National Strategy), both of which were published by Scottish Government in 2022.
This Community Justice Outcome Improvement Plan (CJOIP) has been prepared in the context of that strategy and performance framework and it articulates how Community Justice East Dunbartonshire (CJED) intends to support its key aims. This CJOIP should be read in conjunction with the associated annual delivery plan.
The CJOIP links closely to the National Strategy, which sets out the Scottish Government’s aims and ambitions for community justice in Scotland, the associated National Delivery plan, the Community Justice Performance Framework (the CJPF) [opens in a new window], and the Community Justice Improvement tool (CJIT) developed by Community Justice Scotland [opens in a new window].
As a partnership, we will monitor the delivery of community justice across East Dunbartonshire, identify, through our Strategic Needs and Strength Assessment (SNSA), where things are working well and where things need to be improved.
Each year CJED will collaborate to develop an annual delivery plan, which will identify the SMART actions that partners will undertake to deliver the aims of this CJOIP.
The delivery Plan will be a fluid document that will adapt to any changes that may occur during that year.
The outcomes outlined within this CJOP will be prioritised based on need and national priority.
Progress will be reported to CJED and the Community Planning Executive Group (CPEG) through quarterly update reports.
CJED will work towards the delivery of the nine national outcomes, which can be seen below, by making positive progress in our local priority areas.
The CJPF outlines several suggested indicators to measure against the outcomes. We will collect the required quantitative data to report against the national indicators and will report improvement by providing contextual evidence against the actions and activities outlined in the annual delivery plan.
To ensure that the approach is wide and holistic we will measure progress across the complex needs throughout the person’s journey, use the relevant available quantitative data and encourage partners to provide case studies and qualitative contextual information as we move forward. This will demonstrate real life change, allowing the partnership to build on the most successful, evidence-based ways of working. We will not set targets.
CJED will publish a report each year, in line with legislation, for submission to Community Justice Scotland (CJS), which will show progress against the annual delivery plan, and which will inform the subsequent delivery plan.
National Aims and Outcomes
| National Aim | Priority Areas | National Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Optimise the use of diversion and intervention at the earliest opportunity | Enhance intervention at the earliest opportunity by ensuring greater consistency, confidence in and awareness of services which support the use of direct measures and diversion from prosecution | More people successfully complete diversion from prosecution |
| Improve the identification of underlying needs and the delivery of support following arrest by ensuring the provision of person-centred care within police custody and building upon referral opportunities to services including substance use and mental health services | More people in police custody receive s | |
| Ensure that robust and high-quality community interventions and public protection arrangements are consistently available across Scotland | Support the use of robust alternatives to remand by ensuring high quality bail services are consistently available and delivered effectively | More people are assessed for and successfully complete bail supervision |
| Strengthen options for safe and supported management in the community by increasing and widening the use of electronic monitoring technologies | No nationally determined outcome | |
| Ensure that those given community sentences are supervised and supported appropriately to protect the public, promote desistance from offending and enable rehabilitation by delivering high quality, consistently available, trauma-informed services, and programmes | More people access services to support desistance and successfully complete community sentences | |
| Ensure restorative justice is available across Scotland to all those who wish to access it by promoting and supporting the appropriate and safe provision of available services | No nationally determined outcome | |
| Ensure that services are accessible and available to address the needs of individuals accused or convicted of an offence | Enhance individuals’ access to health and social care and continuity of care following release from prison by improving the sharing of information and partnership-working between relevant partners | More people have access to, and continuity of, health and social care following release from a prison sentence |
| Ensure that the housing needs of individuals in prison are addressed consistently and at an early stage by fully implementing and embedding the Sustainable Housing on Release for Everyone (SHORE) standards across all local authority areas | More people have access to suitable accommodation following release from a prison sentence | |
| Enhance individual’s life skills and readiness for employment by ensuring increased access to employability support through effective education, learning, training, career services and relevant benefit services | More people with convictions access support to enhance their readiness for employment | |
| Enhance community integration and support by increasing and promoting greater use of voluntary throughcare and third sector services | More people access voluntary throughcare following a short-term prison sentence | |
| Strengthen the leadership, engagement, and partnership working of local and national community justice partners |
Deliver improved community justice outcomes by ensuring that effective leadership and governance arrangements are in place and working well, collaborating with partners, and planning strategically. | No nationally determined outcome. |
| Enhance partnership planning and implementation by ensuring the voices of victims of crime, survivors, those with lived experience and their families are effectively incorporated and embedded | No nationally determined outcome. | |
| Support integration and reduce stigma by ensuring the community and workforce have an improved understanding of and confidence in community justice | More people across the workforce and in the community understand, and have confidence in, community justice |
As a Partnership
| We want to | We will |
|---|---|
| Ensure that people in East Dunbartonshire have consistent access to person centred and trauma informed support to successfully complete diversion from prosecution. |
|
| Ensure that people in police custody from East Dunbartonshire have their needs identified and receive support to address these needs |
|
| Ensure that people in East Dunbartonshire have greater access to bail supervision and co-ordinated support where appropriate |
|
| Ensure that those given community sentences in East Dunbartonshire are supervised and supported appropriately to protect the public, promote desistence from offending and enable rehabilitation by delivering high quality, consistently available, trauma-informed services, and programmes |
|
| Increase knowledge and awareness of restorative justice and the ability to direct people to appropriate restorative justice services as and when these become available in East Dunbartonshire. |
|
| Ensure that people’s needs are addressed prior to release from a custodial sentence |
|
| Ensure that people’s needs are addressed prior to release from a custodial sentence | |
| Ensure Community Justice Services are responsive to the specific needs of women. | |
| Ensure all Partners understand their collective statutory responsibilities under the Act. |
|
| Deliver improved community justice outcomes by ensuring that effective leadership and governance arrangements are in place and working well. | |
| Enhance partnership planning and implementation by ensuring the voices of victims of crime, survivors, those with lived experience and their families are effectively incorporated and embedded | |
| Support integration and reduce stigma by ensuring the community and workforce have an improved understanding of and confidence in community justice |
How does it all fit together?
| Vision for Justice in Scotland | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| National Strategy for Community Justice | |||
| National Strategy for Community Justice Delivery Plan | Community Justice Performance Gramewoerk | Community Justice Scotland Improvment ToolCare Inspec | Care Inspectorate Self-evaluation Framework |
| The delivery plan details the agreed activity which the Scottish Government and national community justice partners are taking forward to drive improvement towards each of the priority actions in the strategy. Progress towards the deliverables in the delivery plan will be monitored by governance structures which are coordinated at a national level. | The CJPF sets out nationally determined outcomes which are to be achieved in each local authority area, and national indicators which are to be used in measuring performance against these. The CPJF is to be used by statutory community justice partners acting jointly at a local and Community Justice Scotland. |
The Community Justice Scotland improvement tool sets out the local evidence that will supplement the national indicator data in the CJPF. Local evidence will provide further context to the national indicators, and help to drive improvement and better understand performance locally in relation to the nationally determined outcomes. | The Care Inspectorate's guide to self evaluation for community justice in Scotland promotes collaborative self evaluation and provides a range of quality indicators to support community justice partners in considering how they contribute to improving the life chances and outcomes of people with living experience of community justice in Scotland. |
| East Dunbartoshire Community Justice | |||
Who are Community Justice East Dunbartonshire?
Chairperson: Chief Officer Health and Social Care Partnership/Chief Social Work Officer
Vice Chairperson: Divisional Commander Police Scotland East Dunbartonshire
| Membership | |
| Interim Head of Adult Services | Community Protection Manager |
| Head of Children and Families and Justice Services | Health Improvement & Inequalities Manager |
| Criminal Justice Service Manager | Team Leader Skills Development Scotland |
| Governor in Charge HMP Low Moss | Director of Justice Services SACRO |
| Chief Inspector Police Scotland East Dunbartonshire Area Commander | Regional Family Support Coordinator Families Outside |
| Group Manager - Prevention & Protection Scottish Fire and Rescue Service | Victim Support Scotland |
| Strategic Lead for Housing | East Dunbartonshire Woman's Aid |
| Third Sector Interface (TSI) East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action | |
What are our Governance Arrangements?
The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 required local Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) to publish a Local Outcomes Improvement Plan (LOIP0 [opens in a new window]. The Community Justice Outcome Improvement Plan (CJOIP) must demonstrate clear alignment to this plan.
In East Dunbartonshire, Community Justice East Dunbartonshire along with the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) and the Violence against Women Partnership (Empowered) jointly contribute to the Safer and Stronger Together Strategy which informs Local Outcome 4 in the LOIP as outlined below. East Dunbartonshire has been recognised as one of the best areas to live in Scotland based on people’s health, life expectancy, employment, and school performance. A local authority where economic activity and employment rates are high, and the level of crime is significantly below the Scottish average. Despite all of this, inequalities still exist in communities across the authority.
To make progress towards addressing these inequalities, East Dunbartonshire CPP is committed to working with targeted local communities to deliver actions through a number of plans for smaller geographical areas, these are called Place Plans and are aimed at the areas of most deprivation within the authority. Community Justice East Dunbartonshire will, as a partnership, complement the Place Plans and address the complex needs and inequalities, that affect our residents who are in contact with; on the cusp of entering or affected by the justice system.
| East Dunbartonshire Local Outcome Improvement Plan 2017 - 2027 |
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|---|---|---|
| Local Outcome 4 Safer and Stronger Communities East Dunbartonshire is a safe place in which to live, work and visit. |
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| Local Outcome 4 Safer and Stronger Together Strategy |
||
| Community Safety Partnership |
Community Justice Partnership |
Empowered |
Optimise the use of diversion and intervention at the earliest opportunity
National Outcome 1
More people successfully complete diversion from prosecution.
As a partnership we want to:
Ensure that people in East Dunbartonshire have consistent access to person centred and trauma informed support to successfully complete diversion from prosecution.
Why are we doing this?
Evidence shows that many accused persons require support for mental health, substance use or other issues and that diversion from prosecution offers an opportunity for that support to be provided swiftly. Early intervention can help address the underlying causes of offending, avoid the person being drawn further into the criminal justice system and reduce or prevent further offending, to the benefit of the person, victims, and communities.
The SNSA for Community Justice in East Dunbartonshire, completed through partner engagement, indicates that there are strengths in the process once the person has been assessed as suitable for Diversion, however there are areas for improvement around the understanding of some partners in the process and feedback on outcomes.
Where are we now?
The multi-agency Prevention Intervention and Diversion (PID) subgroup of the partnership has been working to improve the process; information sharing; measurement and support offered to clients. Early evidence indicates that people who have successfully completed Diversion from Prosecution, do not go on to commit any further offences. Diversion from prosecution referrals from Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) have gradually increased over the last 3 years.
The Joint Review of Diversion from Prosecution (2023) made 34 recommendations to improve aspects of the process [opens in a new window]. The PID has identified which of these recommendations can be addressed locally and will develop a Diversion Improvement Plan.
How will we achieve this?
As a partnership we will:
- Develop a separate local Diversion Improvement Plan based on the recommendations from the Joint Review of Diversion from Prosecution.
- Maintain the level of bespoke support offered to people on Diversion from Prosecution.
- Continue the work of the Prevention Intervention and Diversion subgroup.
How will we measure this?
We will gather the following quantitative information to report to Scottish Government via the CJPF:
Number of diversion from prosecution:
- assessments undertaken
- cases commenced
- cases successfully completed.
As a partnership we will strengthen the above national indicators with the following contextual evidence:
- We will gather and analyse the views of people on diversion to establish whether the support met their needs and there were improved outcomes in their personal circumstances.
- We will gather and analyse the views of people supporting to deliver diversion from prosecution in relation to availability of services, referral pathways and barriers
- We will measure progress against the Local Diversion Improvement Plan
National Outcome 2
More people in police custody receive support to address their needs
As a partnership we want to:
Ensure that people in police custody from East Dunbartonshire have their needs identified and receive support to address these needs.
Why are we doing this?
In line with Police Scotland’s commitment to a public health approach to policing, we want to ensure that those who are entering police custody from East Dunbartonshire have their needs identified
As identified through the SNSA, there are no custody facilities in any East Dunbartonshire Police office. All arrests are transported directly to the nearest Custody Centre, which has capacity. Most Throughcare arrangements and support services within the custody centres are for the area that they are in i.e., Glasgow City and Clydebank it is unclear how any interventions, with people from East Dunbartonshire, is communicated to local services such as ADRS, Mental Health services etc.
Where are we now?
Dialogue has commenced between relevant partners and the delivery bodies for the Positive Outcomes Project (POP+) in the custody centres in Glasgow city to establish referral pathways. The Information Sharing Agreement (ISA) between local authorities and Police Scotland to share information of those East Dunbartonshire Residents in police custody has been signed. The partnership will continue this work over the lifespan of this CJOIP.
How will we achieve this?
As a partnership we will:
- Develop and maintain effective information flow between Community Justice Partners, ADPs, and police custody centres for the residents of East Dunbartonshire.
- Ensure that there are effective referral pathways and support in place from police custody centres for residents of East Dunbartonshire in relation to substance use, mental health and other health and social needs.
How will we measure this?
We will gather the following quantitative Information to report to Scottish Government via the CJPF:
Final wording TBC by SG
As a partnership we will strengthen the above national indicators with the following contextual evidence:
- The proportion of people in police custody that were
- a) offered support and declined,
- b) offered support and accepted
- c) recorded as n/a.
- The number of referrals made between police custody and local support services.
Ensure that robust and high-quality community interventions and public protection arrangements are consistently available across Scotland.
National Outcome 3
More people are assessed for and successfully complete bail supervision.
As a partnership we want to:
Ensure that people in East Dunbartonshire have greater access to bail supervision and co-ordinated support where appropriate.
Why are we doing this?
The safety of the public and people affected by crime in East Dunbartonshire is a priority and remand will always be necessary in some cases where the severity of the alleged offence leaves no other option. For everyone else, robust alternatives to remand should be utilised to reduce the remand population and avoid unnecessary disruption and additional adversity in people’s lives. Time spent on remand can disrupt families and communities, and adversely affects peoples’ health, employment opportunities and housing.
Bail with additional conditions is the most direct alternative to remand and is monitored and supported by community partners through bail supervision which affords community justice partners the opportunity to engage with individuals to support identified needs and increase community connections
Where are we now?
As identified through the SNSA, the current proportion of the overall custodial population for people on remand from East Dunbartonshire sits between 22% and 30%, there is a need to further strengthen community-based alternatives. As there is no court in East Dunbartonshire, the process is more complicated. However, the partnership has started the process to introduce Bail Supervision in East Dunbartonshire which will be a multi-agency approach, taking cognisance of the National Guidance [opens in a new window], and the future changes when the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill is enacted [opens in a new window].
How will we achieve this?
As a partnership we will
- Ensure high quality bail services are consistently available and delivered effectively in East Dunbartonshire.
- Strengthen options for safe and supported management in the community by increasing and widening the use of electronic monitoring technologies in East Dunbartonshire
How will we measure this?
We will report the following quantitative information to Scottish Government via the CJPF:
Number of:
- assessment reports for bail suitability
- bail supervision cases commenced
- bail supervision cases completed
As a partnership we will strengthen the above national indicators with contextual evidence by ensuring:
- Mechanisms are in place to support a high-quality bail assessment.
- Referral pathways are in place that support the identified needs of people on bail supervision.
National Outcome 4
More people access services to support desistance and successfully complete community sentences
As a partnership we want to:
Ensure that those given community sentences in East Dunbartonshire are supervised and supported appropriately to protect the public, promote desistence from offending and enable rehabilitation by delivering high quality, consistently available, trauma-informed services, and programmes
Why are we doing this?
Empirical evidence shows that community sentences and interventions are more effective than short term prison sentences at reducing offending and may provide greater opportunity for rehabilitation The three national outcomes for justice social work services inform the practices and interventions in East Dunbartonshire. To meet the public’s needs for safety, justice, and social inclusion all three should be addressed in unison. They also reflect the HSCP Strategic Priorities 1, 2 and 4.
- Community safety and public protection
- The reduction of re-offending
- Social inclusion to support desistance from offending
There is also a national ambition for a trauma informed and responsive workforce in all areas of service delivery.
Where are we now?
Historically East Dunbartonshire Justice Social Work (JSW) has a high level of successful completion rates for people on community sentences. The Drug Treatment and Testing Order has been brought back in house with a jointly funded Senior Addiction Nurse post co located in JSW, a process is under development. There are a number of interventions delivered to support desistance. The East Dunbartonshire ACEs and Trauma Collaborative (EDATC) has been established since 2018 and drives the Trauma Informed Practice agenda. There is a newly appointed dedicated coordinator. All services and programmes take a trauma informed approach.
How will we achieve this?
As a partnership we will ensure:
- the consistent availability of local programmes to support desistance.
- the availability of referral pathways to support the needs of the local population on community disposals
- mechanisms are in place to understand the views of people with experience of community disposals to support service improvement.
- Ensure all services and programmes are trauma informed by utilising NES materials and linking with the EDACT delivery plan.
How will we measure this?
We will report the following quantitative information to Scottish Government via the CJPF:
The percentage of:
- community payback orders successfully completed
- drug treatment and testing orders successfully completed
The number of:
- community sentences compared to other disposals
As a partnership we will strengthen the above national indicators with contextual evidence by:
- gathering and analysing the views of people on community disposals to establish whether the support met their needs and whether there were improved outcomes in their personal circumstances.
National Outcome
No nationally determined outcome.
As a partnership we want to:
Increase knowledge and awareness of restorative justice and the ability to direct people to appropriate restorative justice services as and when these become available in East Dunbartonshire
Why are we doing this?
The Scottish Government’s vision for Restorative Justice [opens in a new winow] is that:
“Restorative Justice is available across Scotland to all those who wish to access it, and at a time that is appropriate to the people and case involved. Approaches taken are consistent, evidence-led, trauma informed and of a high standard. This seeks to ensure the needs of persons harmed and their voices are central and supports a reduction in harmful behaviour across our communities.”
- Restorative justice is a process of independent, facilitated contact, which supports constructive dialogue between a victim and a person who has harmed (whether this be an adult, a child, a young person, or a representative of a corporate or other body) arising from an offence or alleged offence.
Where are we now?
As a partnership we are awaiting guidance from the national implementation team before discussing and deciding which partner/s would be best placed to develop and introduce a service in East Dunbartonshire, over the lifespan of this CJOIP.
How will we achieve this?
As a partnership we will ensure:
- We take cognisance of the national Action Plan.
- Engage with the RJ Implementation Team
- Develop an RJ service as and when appropriate to do so.
How will we measure this?
Yet to be determined
Ensure that services are accessible and available to address the needs of individuals accused or convicted of an offence.
National Outcomes 5-8
More people have access to, and continuity of, health and social care following release from a prison sentence.
More people have access to suitable accommodation following release from a prison sentence.
More people with convictions access support to enhance their readiness for employment
More people access voluntary throughcare following a short-term prison sentence.
As a partnership we want to:
Ensure that people’s needs are addressed prior to release from a custodial sentence
Ensure that people in East Dunbartonshire have greater access to co-ordinated support where appropriate on release.
Ensure Community Justice Services are responsive to the specific needs of women.
Why are we doing this?
Research suggests that people who feel a welcomed part of society are less likely to reoffend compared to those who feel stigmatised. It is therefore important that justice professionals work not only with people who have offended but also with their family, friends, and the wider community (e.g., Employers, community groups, the voluntary sector) to ensure pro-social and positive relationships can be developed and sustained. After people have been released from custody or completed community sentences, it is vital that we support them to reintegrate into society.
Where are we now?
During 2022, 35 liberations from a short-term custodial sentence returned to East Dunbartonshire. A strength in managing the needs and the reintegration of residents back to East Dunbartonshire on release from a custodial sentence is the case management by the multi-agency Reintegration Group which is a subgroup of CJED. There were several needs addressed, during this time , prior to release, the main areas of referral were to the Alcohol and Drugs Recovery Service (ADRS) 12 referrals with 8 engagements, and accommodation issues 5 referrals with 4 positive outcomes. 9 of the 35 releases had a statutory intervention with Justice Social Work. This support is offered to all those sentenced to short-term sentences with no statutory or licence conditions placed on them once released
How will we achieve this?
As a partnership we will:
- Continue to case manage people’s needs through the Reintegration Group
- Work in collaboration with the ADP to embed MAT standards in Community Justice.
- Work in collaboration with the LEP to ensure the employment readiness needs of people in contact with the Justice system are met.
- Leverage community assets to support the increase in inclusive volunteering
- Explore options to improve outcomes for women whose lives are affected by gender-based violence.
How will we measure this?
We will gather the following quantitative information to report to Scottish Government via the CJPF:
Number of transfers in drug/alcohol treatments from:
- custody to community
- community to custody
Number of:
- homelessness applications where prison is last known address
Participation in an employment programme:
- percentage of people with convictions
Number of:
- voluntary throughcare cases commenced
As a partnership we will strengthen the above national indicators with contextual evidence by ensuring:
- Outcome measurement from the Reintegration Group.
- The views of people released from custody is gathered and analysed to establish whether the support met their needs.
Strengthen the leadership, engagement, and partnership working of local and national community justice partners
National Outcome 9
More people across the workforce and in the community understand, and have confidence in, community justice
As a partnership we want to:
- Ensure all Partners understand their collective statutory responsibilities under the Act.
- Deliver improved community justice outcomes by ensuring that effective leadership and governance arrangements are in place and working well.
- Enhance partnership planning and implementation by ensuring the voices of victims of crime, survivors, those with lived experience and their families are effectively incorporated and embedded
- Support integration and reduce stigma by ensuring the community and workforce have an improved understanding of and confidence in community
Why are we doing this?
Whether challenging stigma; health inequalities; employing people with convictions, or participating in community justice planning, improving community justice outcomes will require the involvement and support of local people, communities, local services, and businesses. It is vital that this includes victims of crime, people who have committed offences, families, and the bodies that represent their communities. Community justice outcomes cannot be improved by one stakeholder alone. We must work in partnership to address these complex issues and share positive outcomes.
It is necessary for community justice partners to work together to adopt a strategic approach to planning and delivering improved outcomes, and lasting change for individuals and communities
Where are we now?
The past few years have been difficult for everyone. The partnership has continued to meet virtually and progress the areas of work that were possible. The partnership was unable to hold its annual community justice thematic conferences. Collaboration with other partnerships e.g. the ADP; LEP; CSP and Empowered within East Dunbartonshire continued which enabled CJED to have a voice across all areas. We are hopeful that over the lifespan of this CJOIP that we will resume and enhance previous engagement activities.
How will we achieve this?
As a partnership we will:
- Include the voices of women by meeting with, and engaging with, survivors of domestic and sexual abuse
- Work with Victim organisations to empower people affected by crime.
- Set up mechanisms to gather the views of people in contact with the justice system.
- Use the Care Inspectorate 'self-evaluation guide to support quality improvement with a focus on Leadership and Direction
- Implement the Community Justice Performance Framework & Improvement Tool and use this evidence to review and prioritise outcomes and actions annually
How will we measure this?
We will gather the following quantitative information to report to Scottish Government via the CJPF:
- Percentage of people who agree that:
- People should help their community as part of a community sentence rather than spend a few months in prison for a minor offence.
As a partnership we will strengthen the above national indicators with contextual evidence by ensuring:
- The views of people in contact with the justice system is gathered and analysed.
- Progress is measured through self-evaluation of the partnership using the Care Inspectorate Quality Improvement framework
Setting Priorities
The Annual Delivery Plan associated to this CJOIP will be a fluid live document that will include any tangible SMART actions to address the areas outlined below. These have been prioritised in order of local need and national priority. Some areas are awaiting national development and progress, prior to full implementation being started locally, whilst other areas which are already developed, will be continued, and enhanced throughout the lifespan of the 3-year CJOIP. The associated delivery plan will adapt as required should priorities or direction change. partners believe that the local area is close to achieving most of the national outcomes as a rationale for setting priorities in the CJOIP due to the National Community Justice Performance Framework and Improvement Tool only being published on 31st March 2023.
| Short to Medium term (Year 1-2) | |
| Local Priority | Rationale |
| Develop a separate local Diversion Improvement Plan based on the recommendations from the Joint Review of Diversion from Prosecution | The aim of the review was to assess the operation and impact of diversion from prosecution. There were 34 recommendations made. We believe 10 of these can be actioned locally. |
| Develop and maintain effective information flow between Community Justice Partners, Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP), and police custody centres for the residents of East Dunbartonshire. | Dialogue has commenced between relevant partners including the ADP and the delivery bodies for the Positive Outcomes Project (POP+) in the custody centres in Glasgow city. We will continue this work moving forward. National Delivery Plan (NDP)action 5 relates to this local action with a timescale of January 2024. |
| Ensure that there are effective referral pathways and support in place from police custody centres for residents of East Dunbartonshire in relation to substance use, mental health and other health and social needs. | |
| Ensure high quality bail services are consistently available and delivered effectively in East Dunbartonshire. | We have identified the need to introduce this service as a partnership. National delivery plan timescale is December 2023. |
| Work in collaboration with the ADP to embed Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) standards in Community Justice | This piece of work has already started led by the ADP. This aligns to NDP action 8 timescale April 2025. |
| Explore options to improve outcomes for women whose lives are affected by gender-based violence. | This will be embedded across all areas of work with clients. There has been a steady increase in the rate of domestic abuse recorded. In collaboration with the VAWG partnership the voices of survivors will be heard |
| Include the voices of women in this process by meeting with, and engaging with, survivors of domestic and sexual abuse | |
|
Medium to Long Term (Year 2-3) |
|
| Develop an RJ service as and when appropriate to do so. | Awaiting national developments and a national outcome in the CJPF |
| Strengthen options for safe and supported management in the community by increasing and widening the use of electronic monitoring technologies in East Dunbartonshire | Currently awaiting national guidance and a national outcome associated to EM in the CJPF. |
| Leverage community assets to support the increase in inclusive volunteering | Volunteering is an essential part of employment readiness. This will be part of ongoing work through the LEP |
| Use the Care Inspectorate self-evaluation guide to support quality improvement with a focus on Leadership and Direction | Self-evaluation of the partnership will be ongoing, however will await the development of the proposed guide. |
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Continue and Enhance (Year 1-3) |
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| Maintain the level of bespoke support offered to people on Diversion from Prosecution | This has been ongoing and is well established in East Dunbartonshire. The PID group is a multi-agency subgroup of the partnership |
| Continue the work of the Prevention Intervention and Diversion subgroup | |
| Ensure the consistent availability of local programmes to support desistance. | This is part of JSW statutory functions in collaboration with partners. Programmes such as MFMC; Up2U domestic abuse programme; BRAKE road traffic programmes are available locally. There is collaboration with partner agencies for referrals and the views of clients are gathered and used to enhance the service. |
| Ensure the availability of referral pathways to support the needs of the local population on community disposals | |
| Ensure mechanisms are in place to understand the views of people with experience of community disposals to support service improvement | |
| Continue to case manage people’s needs through the Reintegration Group | The multi-agency Reintegration group has been established for 3 years and case manages scheduled releases from custodial sentences. |
| Set up mechanisms to gather the views of people in contact with the justice system | This is in place through end of order questionnaires and service user groups. |
| Work in collaboration with the LEP to ensure the employment readiness needs of people in contact with the Justice system are met. | As part of the LEP, there is a justice specific service ‘Make it Work’ funded through the No one left behind fund and delivered by the Lennox partnership. |
| Work with Victim organisations to empower people affected by crime. | The voice and safety of victims is embedded across all aspects of the actions and initiatives led by all partners. |
| Ensure all services and programmes are trauma informed by utilising NES materials and linking with the EDACT delivery plan | The East Dunbartonshire ACEs and Trauma Collaborative (EDATC) has been established since 2018 and drives the Trauma Informed Practice agenda |
What could affect the partnership in the future?
Nationally there are changes that the partnership need to consider and incorporate into future annual plans over the next 3 years, due to their potential impact at a local level.
- Introduction of a National Care Service
- Increase in the Cost-of-Living crisis.
- Change in political direction
- Withdrawal of annual funding to local authorities for delivery of community justice.
- Changes to the Community Justice Landscape.
- Introduction of the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Act
- Extending the use of electronic monitoring of people in the community and enabling the use of new technology where appropriate.
It is unknown exactly what impact future changes in legislation and the introduction of the above will have on service delivery within East Dunbartonshire; however, CJED will carry out all preparatory work necessary to prepare for these changes by continuing to update the SNSA to identify future gaps and challenges.; implementing the CJ Improvement tool to enable improvement and progress reporting in the Outcome Activity Report. The Associated Annual Delivery Plan will be a live document that will be changed to include any tangible SMART actions to address any future changes that impact on the delivery of Community Justice at a local level
Equalities Statement
Community Justice East Dunbartonshire (CJED) is committed to encouraging equality and diversity and eliminating unlawful discrimination within its work and activities.
CJED is subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED- [opens in a new window[. The Duty required that CJED report on progress made embedding equalities in our approaches and activities. In general, the equality duties require us, in the exercise of our functions, to have due regard to the need to:
- Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other prohibited conduct.
- Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not.
- Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
The protected characteristics covered by the Duty are:
CJED is committed to mainstreaming equality and diversity and creating an approach that recognises the diverse needs of staff, partners, and other stakeholders with whom we have contact, and promote equality.
This means systematically considering the impact of our work on disadvantaged groups, from the planning stage through to the action and monitoring stages.
Participation Statement
The Community Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 [opens in a new window] requires statutory partners in Community Justice to publish a Participation Statement on their engagement with third sector and communities as part of the community justice planning process, in addition the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 has a specific focus on promoting effective engagement and participation [opens in a new window], to help communities achieve greater control and influence in the decisions and circumstances that affect their lives and in shaping responses .
Throughout 2022-23 CJED continued to meet quarterly, albeit virtually, to discuss collective progress towards the community justice delivery plan 2022-23, the meeting is also an opportunity for partners to bring ideas for joint activity, discuss match funding proposals for specific projects, and employ strategic planning for justice related initiatives.
Throughout 2022-23, CJED has engaged and participated in consultation forums and workshops regarding the National Strategy and National Performance Framework as well as the Improvement Tool produced by CJS. The partnership meetings over the last two years have given the opportunity for local partners to be kept appraised of National Developments during the review of these documents.
All members agree that the CJOIP is a partnership document and have committed to supporting the agreed CJOIP key themes and the associated annual delivery plan that have been informed by partner discussions, assessment of the Strategic Needs and Strengths Assessment, and a partnership development session.
Peer mentors are incorporated into some justice services to ensure positive behavioural change is visible within community justice interventions. During the course of this CJOIP, there are plans to further harness the unique insights provided by those with lived experience of the justice system.
Out with the partnership meetings and the development session the majority of engagement has been 1 – 1 meetings to shape the CJOIP. The CJS Local Improvement Lead (LIL) for East Dunbartonshire has been part of the process at each stage.
| Date | Engagement | Who With | Outcome |
| 15.12.23 | CJOIP Development session | CJED & CJS LIL | Foundations set for the priorities and format of the CJOIP. Gives the basis for how the partnership want to progress to achieve the national outcomes and what are the priority areas to continue to enhance and develop. |
| 26.1.23 | Circulation of write up of session outcomes | CJED & CJS LIL | |
| 7.2.23 | 1-1 meeting to discuss wording of local priority area for VAWG | Empowered VAWG group | Discussion resulting in agreed future direction for gathering the views of women in contact with the justice system. |
| 14.3.23 | Draft Aim 1 circulated for comment | CJED & CJS LIL | Comments received from partners and amendments made to incorporate |
| 21.3.23 | Revised Aim 1 and Aim 2 circulated for comment | CJED & CJS LIL | Comments received from partners and amendments made to incorporate |
| 27.3.23 | 1—1 meeting with Police Scotland | LALO Police Scotland | Discussed various aspects regarding National Outcome 2 as well as others including Diversion improvement plan and realistic timescales. |
| 28.3.23 | 1—1 meeting to discuss MAT standards | ADP Coordinator/ GGC MAT project lead | Agreement to work in collaboration with ADP to ensure standards 1-5 are embedded in Community Justice and implement standards 6-10 over the next year. |
| 31.3.23 | 1—1 meeting to discuss Scottish Governments Volunteering Action Plan | TSI | Embedded volunteering in CJOIP as a crucial step in preparing someone for employment. Placed in Outcomes 5-8 as mechanism to achieve local outcomes. |
| 3.4.23 | Draft version 7 circulated for comment | CJED & CJS LIL | Comments received and actioned. |
| 4.4.23 | Draft V8 circulated for comment | CJED & CJS LIL | Comments from partners. Discussion at feedback meeting on 5.4.23 |
| 5.4.23 | Feedback meeting | CJS LIL | Feedback taken on board. Changes made to draft CJOIP acting on suggestions that were made. |
| 11.4.23 | Written feedback provided | CJS | Written note of feedback meeting to firm up areas for improvement |
| 12.4.23 | Draft V9 circulated | CJS LIL | New version sent to CJS with suggested improvements actioned |
| 13.4.23 | Discussion re V9 | CJS LIL | CJS LIL happy with changes. CJOIP meets all points required. |
| 20.4.23 | Discussed at CJED meeting | CJED | Ratified by partnership and submitted to CJS. |
Glossary of Terms
ADP - Alcohol and Drug Partnership
ADRS - Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service
CJED - Community Justice East Dunbartonshire
CJIT - Community Justice Improvement Tool
CJOIP - Community Justice Outcome Improvement Plan
CJPF - Community Justice Performance Framework
CJS - Community Justice Scotland
COPFS - Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
CPEG - Community Planning Executive Group
CPO - Community Payback Order
CPP - Community Planning Partnership
CSP - Community Safety Partnership
DTTO - Drug Treatment and Testing Order
EDATC = East Dunbartonshire ACEs and Trauma Collaborative
EM -Electronic Monitoring
Empowered - East Dunbartonshire Violence against Women and Girls partnership
GGC - Greater Glasgow and Clyde
ISA - Information Sharing Agreement
JSW - Justice Social Work
LALO - Local Authority Liaison Officer (Police Scotland)
LEP- Local Employability Partnership
LIL - Local Improvement Lead (CJS single point of contact)
LOIP - Local Outcome Improvement Plan
MAT - Medication Assisted Treatment
NDP - National Delivery Plan
PID - Prevention Intervention and Diversion group
POP+ - Positive Outcomes Programme
PSED - Public Sector Equality Duty
SACRO - Scottish Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders
SHORE - Sustainable Housing on Release for Everyone
SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timebound
SNSA - Strategic Needs and Strength Assessment
TSI - Third Sector Interface
VAWG - Violence against Women and Girls