Tuesday 15 Apr 2008 @ 14:16
Scottish Government
Scottish Government
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Deferred sentence scheme extended
Plans to extend a pilot scheme which helps tackle the underlying causes of offending were announced today.
As well as providing continued funding for the existing Structured Deferred Sentence pilot areas, this approach is to be extended to cover courts across two Community Justice Authorities areas - Glasgow and Tayside. The total funding amounts to £667,000 per year.
The SDS is a low-tariff intervention providing structured social work intervention for offenders post-conviction, but prior to final sentencing. It is primarily aimed at offenders with underlying problems such as drug or alcohol dependency, mental health or learning difficulties or unemployment. It is not used for violent, serious or sex offenders.
An evaluation of the SDS pilots in five sheriff courts (Arbroath, Forfar, Inverness, Ayr and Kilmarnock) shows that:
* Overall the schemes operated well, with good relationships with other agencies and enthusiastic SDS workers. In general, practitioners were satisfied with the referral process, services available to offenders, and the ability to extend orders if required.
* Almost all of the Sheriffs interviewed, expressed confidence in SDS because of the ability of SDS to address offenders' needs and therefore potentially reduce re-offending and the fact that they had contact with offenders after three months, giving them a feeling of greater control.
* The majority of practitioners interviewed were positive about SDS, believing it filled a gap in existing court options and benefited offenders through receving support, changing behaviour, and receiving a lesser sentence.
* Around a fifth of orders in Highland and Angus were not completed. This is lower than for community service or probation during a similar period
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said:
"Structured Deferred Sentences offer the courts a highly credible option for providing formal interventions with low level offenders.
"The schemes are now running well and are having positive effects on the root causes of offending behaviour. It is also encouraging that sheriffs have expressed confidence in them.
"These sentences target people who would benefit from social-work led supervision that targets the underlying causes of their offending behaviour. We are not talking about violent, serious and dangerous offenders.
"A crucial aspect of changing criminal behaviour is demonstrating that there is a more rewarding alternative to a life of crime. Short prison sentences often fail to deliver on that goal.
"These types of interventions can help an offender address underlying problems, improve employment prospects and build a sense of routine and self-esteem. This can lead to a future which is free from offending - and that is what we all want."
The purpose of the SDS is to provide a relatively short period of focussed supervision as part of a deferred sentence with the specific objectives of:
* Meeting assessed crimonogenic needs and building offender motivation for positive change
* Reducing or restricting the frequency of seriousness of offending behaviour
* Avoiding premature or unnecessarily intensive periods of supervision in the community
* Completing the range of available interventions, thus meeting the needs of the courts
* Matching more effectively intensity of intervention/supervision to assessed needs and risks
* "Investing to save" by withholding offenders, wherever and whenever appropriate, from other, less appropriate community disposals/custody
Continuation of funding for the existing schemes amounts to £287,000 per annum. The Innovation Fund for the CJAs in Glasgow and Tayside is £190,000 each. The unit cost of SDS overall is comparable with the annual cost of a community service order but the average duration of SDS is much shorter and reflects therefore a greater level of intensity of intervention compared, for example, with a standard probation order.
The disposal is targeted at different groups including women, young offenders or those with alcohol or drug related problems, learning difficulties or mental health problems. It is only available following preparation of a Social Enquiry Report, and periods of deferment are usually for either three or six months.
The evaluation covers the implementation of the SDS pilots in three areas, and 5 Sheriff Courts; Ayrshire (Ayr and Kilmarnock Sheriff Courts), Angus (Arbroath and Forfar Sheriff Courts) and Highland (Inverness Sheriff Court). The pilots commenced in early 2005.
Related Information
As well as providing continued funding for the existing Structured Deferred Sentence pilot areas, this approach is to be extended to cover courts across two Community Justice Authorities areas - Glasgow and Tayside. The total funding amounts to £667,000 per year.
The SDS is a low-tariff intervention providing structured social work intervention for offenders post-conviction, but prior to final sentencing. It is primarily aimed at offenders with underlying problems such as drug or alcohol dependency, mental health or learning difficulties or unemployment. It is not used for violent, serious or sex offenders.
An evaluation of the SDS pilots in five sheriff courts (Arbroath, Forfar, Inverness, Ayr and Kilmarnock) shows that:
* Overall the schemes operated well, with good relationships with other agencies and enthusiastic SDS workers. In general, practitioners were satisfied with the referral process, services available to offenders, and the ability to extend orders if required.
* Almost all of the Sheriffs interviewed, expressed confidence in SDS because of the ability of SDS to address offenders' needs and therefore potentially reduce re-offending and the fact that they had contact with offenders after three months, giving them a feeling of greater control.
* The majority of practitioners interviewed were positive about SDS, believing it filled a gap in existing court options and benefited offenders through receving support, changing behaviour, and receiving a lesser sentence.
* Around a fifth of orders in Highland and Angus were not completed. This is lower than for community service or probation during a similar period
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said:
"Structured Deferred Sentences offer the courts a highly credible option for providing formal interventions with low level offenders.
"The schemes are now running well and are having positive effects on the root causes of offending behaviour. It is also encouraging that sheriffs have expressed confidence in them.
"These sentences target people who would benefit from social-work led supervision that targets the underlying causes of their offending behaviour. We are not talking about violent, serious and dangerous offenders.
"A crucial aspect of changing criminal behaviour is demonstrating that there is a more rewarding alternative to a life of crime. Short prison sentences often fail to deliver on that goal.
"These types of interventions can help an offender address underlying problems, improve employment prospects and build a sense of routine and self-esteem. This can lead to a future which is free from offending - and that is what we all want."
The purpose of the SDS is to provide a relatively short period of focussed supervision as part of a deferred sentence with the specific objectives of:
* Meeting assessed crimonogenic needs and building offender motivation for positive change
* Reducing or restricting the frequency of seriousness of offending behaviour
* Avoiding premature or unnecessarily intensive periods of supervision in the community
* Completing the range of available interventions, thus meeting the needs of the courts
* Matching more effectively intensity of intervention/supervision to assessed needs and risks
* "Investing to save" by withholding offenders, wherever and whenever appropriate, from other, less appropriate community disposals/custody
Continuation of funding for the existing schemes amounts to £287,000 per annum. The Innovation Fund for the CJAs in Glasgow and Tayside is £190,000 each. The unit cost of SDS overall is comparable with the annual cost of a community service order but the average duration of SDS is much shorter and reflects therefore a greater level of intensity of intervention compared, for example, with a standard probation order.
The disposal is targeted at different groups including women, young offenders or those with alcohol or drug related problems, learning difficulties or mental health problems. It is only available following preparation of a Social Enquiry Report, and periods of deferment are usually for either three or six months.
The evaluation covers the implementation of the SDS pilots in three areas, and 5 Sheriff Courts; Ayrshire (Ayr and Kilmarnock Sheriff Courts), Angus (Arbroath and Forfar Sheriff Courts) and Highland (Inverness Sheriff Court). The pilots commenced in early 2005.
Related Information
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