Aims, Responsibilities & Services
The Social Work Criminal Justice Service's main aims include:
- tackling criminal behaviour and reducing risk of re-offending
- protecting the public
- supervising offenders in the community
- assisting prisoners re-settle into the community after release from custody.
The responsibilities of the Social Work Criminal Justice Service include:
- providing courts with a range of alternatives to prison in appropriate circumstances
- providing effective supervision of offenders in the community
- challenging offending behaviour and helping offenders realise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, their families, the community and, most importantly, their victims
- promoting community safety and public protection
- assisting with problems that may contribute to offending, for example, drug or alcohol misuse, relationship difficulties, mental health problems, gambling problems, anger management problems, problem solving difficulties etc.
Main services include:
Court Services
- assessments and reports on offenders to courts to assist decisions on sentencing
- court social work services to assist those attending court
- diversion from prosecution
- bail information and supervision services as an alternative to custodial remand
- supervised attendance order services as an alternative to prison for failing to pay a fine
Supervision
- supervising offenders on structured deferred sentences
- supervising offenders in the community on probation orders to tackle offending behaviour
- supervising offenders on drug treatment and testing orders to reduce drug related crime
- supervising offenders on community service orders who are required to perform unpaid, useful work for the benefit of the community
- supervising offenders on community payback orders
Throughcare
- prison social work services to prisoners and their families
- preparing reports for the Parole Board to assist decisions about release from prison
- throughcare services including parole, supervised release and other prison aftercare orders to assist public safety and community protection
How services are provided
The Angus Council Social Work Criminal Justice Service in Angus is part of Angus Council Social Work & Health. The Criminal Justice Service in Angus works in partnership with statutory organisations (e.g. Tayside Police, Scottish Prison Service, NHS etc) and voluntary organisations (e.g. Apex, Action for Children etc).
Contact with the Angus Council Social Work Criminal Justice Service is normally as a result of a court order or a sentence.