Social Work Scotland welcome the Report of the Scottish Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission: Justice that Works.
We appreciate the emphasis on reducing reliance on custody, strengthening community-based alternatives, and working towards a sustained reduction in reoffending. The report reinforces the critical role of strong governance, leadership, and evidence-informed interventions across the justice system to support rehabilitation, including through enhanced use of diversion, community sentences, and whole-system approaches.
While many recommendations reflect work already underway, we support the focus on prevention, reintegration, and performance improvement, particularly the potential strengthening of Community Justice Scotland and other partnerships.
We urge careful consideration of practical implications, such as local authority responsibilities and extending Presumption Against Short Term Sentences. Reforms must be realistic, adequately resourced, and aligned with social work capacity to drive lasting change.
