Changing Scottish justice will take courage and cooperation

Citation

Graham H (2020) Changing Scottish justice will take courage and cooperation. In: Hassan G & Barrow S (eds.) Scotland After The Virus. Edinburgh: Luath Press, pp. 188-194. https://www.luath.co.uk/product/scotland-after-the-virus

Abstract
Scottish society has a problem with punishment, well documented over decades and different parties of government. It sits uncomfortably with national identities, how we see ourselves and our futures. Overall, recorded crime in Scotland is among the lowest seen in 45 years, since 1974 (Scottish Government, 2020). Yet dominant responses to crime and those who commit it may not make us safer or better off. Emerging from the exceptional circumstances and adversity of the COVID-19 crisis offers opportunities for doing justice differently. This chapter considers uncertain times and emergency measures in Scottish prisons, courts and community justice during the pandemic, and proposes strategies for change.