Inefficiencies in Scotland’s criminal justice system cause delays for victims and witnesses and cost at least £40m, according to an Audit Scotland report published today.
However, the watchdog acknowledges that many of the problems are being addressed following the introduction of the Scottish Government’s Making Justice Work programme last July. Criminal cases are being processed faster and more efficiently, it says.
The report, An overview of Scotland’s criminal justice system, found that in 2009/10,many cases had repeat court stages that could be avoided, costing around £10m. Other cases were subject to late decisions by prosecutors not to proceed, at a cost of around £30m.
Overall, 37% of court appearances required repeating a stage in the process, usually because the accused or witness did not turn up or the procurator fiscal or defence agent were not fully prepared.
Around £47m of extra costs were incurred by defendants changing their plea to guilty shortly before trial, but the report says this right is a ‘fundamental principle’ of Scottish Law.
Audit Scotland warns that the ‘long-term sustainability’ of criminal justice services is at risk from falling budgets, rising costs and limited control over demand. New legislation from government, case law and the increasing complexity of cases are increasing costs, while budgets for the six main criminal justice bodies, except the police, are being cut by 7% in real terms in 2011/12.
While criminal justice bodies are developing plans to deal with the cut in revenue, the longer-term implications are not known, the report warns.
Bob Black, auditor general for Scotland, said that most of the money identified in the report as inefficiencies ‘could be saved’.
He said: ‘Scotland’s criminal justice system is very complex, involving many different public, private and voluntary organisations, each with different roles and accountabilities.
‘While this ensures justice is impartial and transparent, it means it is difficult to manage the system as a whole.’
The report also found that re-offending was a continuing problem in Scotland, with ‘little progress’ having been made. Reconviction rates have fallen by less than 1% in the past three years. Despite this, it is estimated that only around £81m of the £857m spent in the Scottish criminal justice system in 2009/10 went on services directly aimed at reducing re-offending.
Accounts Commission chair John Baillie said: ‘Over two-thirds of those sent to prison in 2009/10 had five or more previous convictions. Reducing re-offending would have many benefits.
‘However, services to reduce re-offending vary across the country and the lack of consistent performance information makes it difficult to compare the effectiveness of different services.’
