Prison population and penal reform: working towards sustainability

The Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission emphasised the importance of taking a holistic approach to reform that considered key stages in the system including bail and remand, sentencing, and community disposals. It is not proposed that any of the measures be taken forward in isolation, and it is important to be mindful of potential interactions between the various measures consulted.

While considering systemic reform, it is vital that in addition to assessing the impacts of proposals on specific policy areas, we also view things through a wider, strategic lens to consider the policy package as a whole to ensure it results in a balanced and coherent criminal justice system.

The Scottish Government is clear that ultimately, the reforms proposed in this consultation must work together as a package to create an improved justice system, with a more sustainable prison population, that follows the evidence to support and supervise people in the community where possible, while providing reassurance to victims of crime and the people of Scotland more broadly.