1. Introduction
1.1 Section 306 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 requires the Scottish Ministers, amongst other things, to publish information enabling people engaged in the administration of criminal justice to become aware of the financial implications of their decisions.
1.2 The first part of 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. The second part provides profiles of sentencing practice in the district and sheriff courts.
1.3 As well as providing information on the financial implications of sentencing decisions, the sentencing profiles are intended to make sentencing information more widely available to assist in improving clarity and consistency in sentencing practice.
1.4 Comments on the information provided, or suggestions for further information which might be included in future documents will be very welcome. They should be sent to Anna Cossar, Criminal Law Division, Scottish Executive Justice Department, Room GW.15, St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh, EH1 3DG.
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.