Written evidence submission to the Scottish Parliament Criminal Justice Committee on Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill

Abstract

In response to the Scottish Parliament Criminal Justice Committee Call for Views, this evidence submission is co-written in an individual capacity as criminologists working in academia, whose research interests, publications, teaching, policy and public engagement are relevant to issues considered in this Bill. Overall, the general approach taken in the Bill is sensible and constructive. We welcome the fact that bail reform and release and reintegration supports are featuring on the Parliamentary legislative agenda. This view does not preclude the need for thoughtful scrutiny of details of what the Bill proposes, nor does it imply there is no scope for making amendments/additions to further improve the Bill. Proposals in the Bill span multiple areas of Scottish Justice and, as such, our submission raises some relevant wider issues, for context.