Monday, March 16, 2009

Summary justice reform one year on – a Law Society perspective

The Law Society of Scotland have given their perspective on the summary justice reforms, one year after the introduction of the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform)(Scotland) Act 2007.

Release from the Law Society :

Society continues to review the effect of summary justice reform

The Law Society of Scotland welcomes any reflection on summary justice reform, one year after the introduction of the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform)(Scotland) Act 2007. The Society fully supports any initiative which has the aim of creating a more efficient and effective justice system.

The Criminal Law Committee of the Society will continue to monitor the effect the reforms have had in practice.

In addition, the Society set up a review group, in 2008, to continue to work with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Legal Aid Board to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of summary legal aid reform.

Bill McVicar, convener of the Society’s Criminal Law Committee comments:

“There is a balance to be struck between the need for efficiencies in the justice system and the rights of the accused. Dealing with offences outside of the court system will need to be backed up with measures to ensure that individuals facing a fiscal fine have sound legal advice.”

No comments: