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1. Introduction
Section 306 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 requires that the Scottish Ministers publish information which enables people engaged in the administration of criminal justice to become aware of the financial implications of their decisions.
This publication aims to provide simple information about some of the costs of the criminal justice system. It includes the distribution of total expenditure, costs of various disposals, costs of different types of court case, expenditure on prosecution and Criminal Legal Aid by type of case and information on sheriff court income from fines.
In previous years, detailed profiles of sentencing practice in the district and sheriff courts have been published alongside this information. These profiles will now appear in Section 2 of the "Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts" document which provides a better context for the information. The document can be found at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/PubCriminalProceedings
Section 306 also requires the Scottish Ministers to publish equalities information enabling those working in the criminal justice system to avoid discriminating against anyone on grounds of race, gender, sexuality, etc. This information also enables the impact of the criminal justice system on different groups to be monitored more effectively. Key equalities information can now be found in the final part of this document.
We would welcome comments on the information provided in this publication, or suggestions for further information which might be included in future versions. Comments should be sent to:
Section 306 Publication,
Criminal Law & Licensing Division,
The Scottish Government,
Room GW.15,
St Andrew's House,
Regent Road,
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG.You can also e-mail your comments to: section306comments@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Section 306
Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995
(1) The Scottish Ministers shall in each year publish such information as they consider expedient for the purpose of:
(a) enabling persons engaged in the administration of criminal justice to become aware of the financial implications of their decisions; or
(b) facilitating the performance by such persons of their duty to avoid discriminating against any persons on the ground of race or sex or any other improper ground.
(2) Publication under subsection (1) above shall be effected in such manner as Scottish Ministers consider appropriate for the purpose of bringing the information to the attention of the persons concerned.
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