Fife & Forth Valley Community Justice Authority | FFV CJA

Domestic Abuse

The prevalence of domestic abuse is increasing across the Fife & Forth Valley area. A new programme to work with men who abuse their partners is to start in Forth Valley.

Transfer of Health Care

In 2011 the responsibility for the provision of prisoner health care will transfer to local NHS boards. Fife & Forth Valley CJA has assumed responsibility for the co-ordination of Throughcare issues via our Health & Well-being Group.

Young Offenders

The peak offending age in Scotland is 18 years. Young persons account for hugely disproportionate levels of certain types of crime such as public disorder, vandalism and violence. Persons aged 16-20 account for approximately one-third of reports sent to court in the Fife & Forth Valley area.

Prisons

There are three prisons within the Fife & Forth Valley area. Two are national facilities accommodating female offenders (HMP & YOI Cornton Vale) and young offenders (HMYOI Polmont). HMP Glenochil accommodates adult males serving long and short-term sentences, many from this area.

Community Payback

The Community Payback Order is a new low tariff sentence imposed by Courts as an alternative to custody (only imposed on an offender aged 16 or above).

Substance Misuse

Drugs and alcohol are direct factors in a large proportion of crimes committed in the Fife & Forth Valley area. People with drug problems often commit crime in order to finance their addiction. Recreational use of drugs and alcohol is a major factor in violence and public disorder.

Reducing Re-offending

Reconviction rates of offenders receiving Community Service are lower than for offenders receiving prison sentences. Fife & Forth Valley CJA support all efforts to reduce re-offending and is committed to investing in credible Community Payback Orders as an alternative to short-term prison sentences.

High Risk Offenders

Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) are established both in Fife and Forth Valley and are the means by which local agencies work in partnership to offer a co-ordinated approach to the management of sexual and violent offenders in the community who pose a risk to public safety.

Women Offenders

The majority of women offenders in Scotland are accommodated in HMP and YOI Cornton Vale. Many women are sent to prison for very short periods, including a significant number who spend time in custody on remand but do not then serve a custodial sentence.

News

Jan

Community Justice Authorities Welcome Publication of Angiolini Commission Report

Scotland's eight Community Justice Authorities today welcomed the publication of the report by the Commission on Women Offenders, chaired by Dame Elish Angiolini.

The report reinforces a range of approaches and services for women which have been persistently championed and supported by Community Justice Authorities (CJAs), such as specialist centres for women offenders, mentoring schemes, supported accommodation, supervised bail, diversion and meet-at-the-gate services. Community justice partners have long called for the opportunity and resources to further develop and roll out these dedicated services for women in the criminal justice system across Scotland.

2011 Prisoner Survey Thematic Bulletins

Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has published a series of thematic bulletins, which draw upon responses to the 2011 Prisoner Survey to look in more detail at the experience of female offenders, young offenders, veteran prisoners (ex-forces) and prisoners who had been in care as looked after children.

The bulletins can be viewed by following this link to the SPS website.

Jan

Local Success at National Community Payback Awards

At the second Scottish Community Payback Awards held last week, Stirling Council's Community PayBack Team won the Partnership Award for their involvement in the Valley Project. Falkirk Council Community Payback Team's Project Lifeskills was highly commended in the Skills Building Category.

The Community Payback Awards are designed to acknowledge the best and most innovative community payback unpaid work and community service projects taking place across Scotland. All the projects involve offenders who have been ordered by the Courts to undertake unpaid work in the community.

Government News Feed

Scottish Government News By Topic: Law, Order and Public Safety

Most recent news releases on Law, Order and Public Safety from the Scottish Government.

Protecting police and fire services
Police and Fire Reform Bill passes Stage 1
Civil Justice Bill introduced
‘Making Justice Work’ the priority in new Bill
Justice Secretary welcomes reform report
Justice Committee stage 1 report supports general principles of Bill.
Drug seizures by Scottish Police Forces
Drug seizures by Scottish Police Forces 2010-11.

Fife and Forth Valley Community Justice Authority

Fife & Forth Valley Community Justice Authority (FFV CJA) is a pubic sector agency whose purpose is to reduce re-offending and create safer communities. To achieve this we work in partnership with a range of statutory partners who include local authorities, Scottish Prison Service, police and health.

The work of Fife & Forth Valley CJA is set out in our Area Plan and our Annual Report.

Community Payback

Justice seen, Justice done

The Community Payback Order is a new low tariff sentence imposed by Courts as an alternative to custody (only imposed on an offender aged 16 or above). This new Order replaces the existing provisions for community service orders etc and offers the opportunity for low level offenders to payback their community for their offence through unpaid hard work.

Unpaid work or other activity requirements can be imposed for between 20 and 300 hours. An unpaid work or other activity requirement must be completed within 3 months (Level 1) and 6 months (Level 2), unless the court states otherwise at the point of sentence.

Local Authorities are keen to promote the valuable work carried out and are always looking for new projects and suggestions for projects whether they may be routine or innovative, regular or one-off.

Fresh Start Programme, Falkirk

Fresh Start is a skills based course to help offenders increase their confidence and employability. This is undertaken in conjunction with physical labour undertaken when on community service. The programme received an award in the Highly Commended category at the Scottish Community Service Awards in April 2010.

Case study of an ex-offender

Nominate a Project

To nominate a Community Payback project in your area click on the relevant link below:

Board Papers

The Agenda and supporting papers for the FFV CJA Board Meeting scheduled on Monday, 25 June 2012, will be issued on 15 June 2012.

To access previous Board Papers, please click on the link below:

Information Reports

There are 2 formal Information Reports for Board Members to note prior to the CJA Board Meeting on 22nd March 2012. These reports and their appendices are provided at the links below:

SPS Prison Population Trends Q3 2011/12 Information Report

Appendices:

Table 1: SPS Establishment Populations by CJA Area Quarter 3 2011/12

Table 2: CJA Prisoners by SPS Establishment Quarter 3 2011/12

Fife & Forth Valley CJA Financial Report and Accounts 2010-2011

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