Item 8 - Community Justice Partnership Report
West Dunbartonshire Council · 21 May 2026
Back to Community Planning West Dunbartonshire Management Board — 21 May 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Management Board Meeting Community Planning Partnership Highlights and Issues Report FOR INFORMATION ONLY X FOR DECISION Name of Partnership Community Justice Partnership (CJP) Date of report 23/04/2026 Name and email of lead contact Lesley.James@west-dunbarton.gov.uk 1 Highlights of activity and progress since last meeting Working/Steering Group Updates: Arrest Referral Scheme The chair of the ARS group has recently retired from his post in Police Scotland, Inspector Roddy MacNeill was a champion of the ARS group greatly and contributed greatly to its ongoing commitment to supporting people at the point of arrest - he will be missed. The group has recently enhanced its membership to include representation from services, ‘With You’ and ‘Stepping stones’, this has been a great addition the group. The group also includes representation from Police Healthcare, Police Custody, and the National lead for the ARS. We have also widened the groups communication pathway to the ‘Fairer Futures’ initiative with our Working 4U colleagues as part of a collaborative approach to supporting people out of poverty. The group is currently gathering stats in each service area to better understand the demographic, risk and vulnerabilities, and identify areas for further development of services provision. A data report will be available and published on the CJS website as per our legal duty once it has been ratified. Custody to Community (C-C) 1. Emergency Early Release of Prisoners The final Tranche of prisoners eligible for EER were released across April 2026. There have been further emergency measures to release short- term prisoners – STP30.STP30 refers to “Short‑Term Prisoner 30%” — a policy change to the automatic early release point for certain prisoners. ITEM 8
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STP30 reduces the release point for eligible short‑term prisoners to 30% of their sentence served, instead of the previous 40% (STP40) or 50%. It applies to people serving short‑term sentences (less than 4 years) who meet eligibility criteria. Prisoners convicted of sexual offences or domestic abuse offences are not eligible under STP30 and continue to be released after 50% of their sentence. STP30 was introduced by the Scottish Government as a population‑management measure to ease severe overcrowding in prisons and maintain safe operation of the prison estate. The STP30 change came into force in May 2026, with releases managed in tranches where people had already served more than 30% of their sentence. People released under STP30 are still released on licence and may be subject to statutory or voluntary throughcare, depending on their sentence and circumstances. National and local Justice Social Work services have highlighted the increased pressure on pre‑release planning, accommodation, benefits, and community support due to shorter custody periods. 2. Custody to Rehab (C2R) “Proof of Concept” Custody to Rehab pathways is proving to be hugely beneficial to justice service users in WD. To date there have been 10 assessments undertaken, with 8 WD residents progressing into placements. As part of our commitment to being included with the C2R proof of concept, a data return has been requested and submitted to Community Justice Scotland providing local stats and qualitative data in the from of a case study. This information will be included in a report CJS are submitting to Scottish Government to evidence the need for continued and sustainable funding, CJS are pleased with the local response from WD. There has been a draft local C2R guidance created to support a clear, unified, protocol and process for referral as part of shared partner commitment that promotes a ‘whole person’ approach to supporting WD resident in their recovery journeys. The guidance will contribute to mitigating service generated risk as part of systems or protocols and provide a step-by-step guide to the referral process, highlighting single and multi-agency responsibilities and undertakings. The guidance will continue to be developed in collaboration with WD ADP to ensure synergy of process and protocol between health pathways and community-based pathways to rehab. Prevention and Early and Effective Intervention The use of Diversion in both adult and youth justice context. WD CJP has hosted 3 adult and youth diversion development sessions across 2025 – 2026.The sessions will shape and support development of local process, protocol and diversionary activates. The updated National Diversion Guidance is due to be published, and local learning will be married with national guidance to support outcome improvement activity for the use of diversion in WD. There has been ongoing conversation with CVS to explore the inclusion of 3rd sector and grass routes organisations who provide services in WD to be considered within
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the scope of diversionary activity. This would enhance the portfolio of suitable diversionary activities that is currently available. Justice services have introduced a safeguarding protocol for sharing risk and concerns around child protection and violence against women and girls. To support the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults affected by domestic abuse, justice services are triaging the names of those due to be released from prison (planned releases) with our partners in VAWG and children and families’ services to ensure effective victim safety planning and safeguarding. As part of this ongoing activity Justice services are considering the benefit of sharing prison release information 3 months prior to the perpetrator being release. Consideration is being given to the legal position and GDPR. Women Impacted by Justice (WiJ) The Women and Justice working group have taken the decision to amend the name of the group to be more representative of the women it supports – as such the group has been rebranded as the ‘Women Impacted by Justice Working Group’ – still referred to as the WiJ. The group has been considering the health needs of women and the strategic elements of embedding the women health plan into pathway for women impacted by justice. The Health Improvement lead group member provided the group with a paper detailing the shared agenda and priorities of the health improvement delivery plan and women impacted by justice. This paper will be presented at the next CJP for discussion and outcome improvement planning. The CJ Health Improvement Lead for NHS GGC is currently undertaking local research to better understand the health needs of justice service users who have been given community sentences. There will be a qualitative and quantitative report provided detailing the local health needs of justice services users in the WD. The report will be available in May 2026, the research was funded by WD CJP. Once the research is available the group will marry the recommendations to wider ongoing activity. There has been a request from two other local authorities to showcase the women in justice discovery report published in 2025, as part of their 16 days of action campaign 2026. They want to take learning from the research and develop enhanced local responses when responding to women impacted by justice. This news is greatly received and evidence’s the need for a call to action around the issues that the report spotlighted. Caledonian Systems Steering Group Due to ongoing partner organisation and single-agency service capacity issues it has been difficult to coordinate the working group and gain traction in terms of outcome improvement planning. This will be considered at the next CJP. Employability WD Justice Services are collaborating with Working 4 U “Fairer Futures” Proof of Concept. W4U have secured money from the Scottish Government until March
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2026 to support justice populations with a routes out of poverty agenda. There has been much development and implementation work undertaken and there will be a targeted approach to service provision operating through 7 separate work strands: 1. Community to Rehab 2. Caledonian men’s group 3. WSSS women’s groups 4. Community based sentences 5. Education & Higher Education 6. Youth Justice 7. Justice Throughcare The initial proof of concept proved hugely successful, and the Scottish Government have awarded funding to continue with the initiative to March 2027. This news is greatly welcomed and allows Justice and Working 4U partners to continue and to develop our approach to service provision as part of ongoing commitment to a trauma informed justice approach. 2 Outline of any issues/risks and how these are being managed STP30 Agenda as detailed above. The impact of this on service provision, risk and victim safety has yet to be seen. WD CJP is still absorbing the impact of the EER process, and this requires to be quantified. Budgets and capacity are an ongoing issue for community justice – this is a national issue and hopefully we will see a bigger investment in community justice with the presumption towards liberty and away from custodial sentences. Issues or risk will be identified and assessed in the Strategic Needs and Strengths Assessments and identified at working/steering groups. These will be reported to the CJP for escalation where necessary. 3 Outline of the main outputs expected before next meeting Progress reporting updates from all working groups. 4 What are your requirements of partners in the Community Planning Management Board to achieve the outcomes of the DIG? To support the CJP to deliver locally on the ‘National Strategy for Community Justice’ at a local level. To support the CJP with the uncertainty (nationally) regarding funding and budgets to support the local delivery of the strategy.
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The CJP will be required to identify funding to deliver the local CJOIP and associated activities. 5 Please outline any good news story you wish to share WD Justice services are delighted to report that feedback from the Scottish Government around the partnership approach with Working 4U was very positive and they were impressed by the amount of success and progress that was made in the 3-month initial phase. This success was key to securing funding for a further year and highlights the power of the CJP working groups, and a collaborative approach to outcome improvement planning across shared agenda and priority areas. Justice Services won Leadership Team of the Year at WD HSCP staff awards 2026. Justice Services manager, Laura Smith, and the justice services team were delighted to accept the award along with the recognition that the team have worked together to make a significant contribution to the people we serve under significant pressure and difficult circumstances.