The criminal justice system is simply failing to get to grips with the problems of reoffending, an MSP has claimed.
Alison McInnes says the economic and social cost of offending and reoffending is immense, despite pouring so many resources into picking up the pieces.
She said: “Lives are ruined, communities are blighted and potential is lost.
“Considering those who are in our criminal justice system, we can see that we have failed to get to grips with the underlying problems mental health problems, a history of abuse, addiction, poverty, exclusion from education and being in the care system.
“We know what lies behind the chaotic lives that lead to prison. Worse, we also know what makes a difference.
“Reoffending rates remain stubbornly high, however.”
Mrs McInnes said a compassionate, flexible justice system will benefit everyone in Scotland.
“We need to develop and build on close links between criminal justice services, social work, education, drug and alcohol services and disability services,” she said.
“Those connections have meant there has been progress on tackling the root causes of crime. I am concerned that removing criminal justice social work from the local authority family would be expensive and disruptive.
“On the other hand, disbanding the CJAs (Community Justice Authorities) completely and returning responsibility to our 32 separate local authorities will not address the problems of poor integration and postcode-based justice services.
“What we need is a…community-based response.”
She believes the best way forward would be to reform the CJAs by ensuring they have the responsibility-to plan, co-ordinate and monitor services in their area.
“While CJAs have been successful in bringing people together, Audit Scotland reported that the way in which they were set up and the inflexible funding arrangements that are in place have limited their effectiveness,” she said.
“Audit Scotland concludes funding for community justice services is particularly inflexible and does not encourage reductions in reoffending.
“Clearer governance, proper control of budgets and building on what is good in CJAs is likely to bring about change most effectively,” she said.
“However, if we are to reduce reoffending drastically, at the heart of it all has to be local, community-based solutions.
“Like it or not, a complex web of societal interactions need to come together to prevent reoffending and ensure that community justice disposals provide both punishment and alternatives.”