Core Services

A background report, written by a Social Worker, to assist the sentencer in making a disposal.
The offender will see what is written.
A report must be obtained before anyone goes to prison for the first time.
A Social Worker offers advice/opinion to the sentencer as to the most appropriate sentence.

Reports prepared by Social Workers in the community and the prison for use by the Parole Board.
Comment on risks the prisoner poses and future plans following their release.

These are orders of between 6 months and 3 years in length which the courts impose on offenders who have a particular problem to address.

Offenders are supervised on a regular basis by a qualified Social Worker.
Orders are strictly enforced and failure by the offenders to comply with the condition result in them being returned to court referred to as a breach action.
Additional conditions can be inserted beyond the standard requirements.
Primarily a device to help an offender change their behaviour.
Good progress can result in the order being discharged early.
Consent is required by the offender.

To be completed within 12 months.
An order of between 80 and 300 hours of unpaid work in the community.
A direct alternative to custody.
Enforcement of standards by supervising staff.
Failure to comply results in a return to court.
Work is governed by Health and Safety directives and offenders are treated as though they were paid employees.
Those offenders who "breach" their orders face imprisonment.
Not available to the District Courts.
Consent is required by the offender.
No offenders are left unsupervised at any time.
Individual or squad work is available to offenders.

An order of between 10 and 100 hours imposed on offenders who fail to pay their fines and are therefore facing imprisonment for fine default as a result.
Combines the elements of probation and community service by requiring offenders to undertake "constructive" activities (groupwork modules debt awareness, anger management, health issues or unpaid work in the community).
Failure to comply can result in imprisonment.
Standards are enforced by supervising staff.
No consent is required and therefore no Social Enquiry Report is prepared in advance.
Work is to be completed within 12 months.

Prison Based Social Work (Porterfield Prison, Inverness)

Referred to as "Throughcare" work.
Social Workers focus their work on prisoners in certain categories, eg sex offenders, high risk, violent offenders or drug users and encourage them to look at their offending behaviour during the period of their imprisonment.
During sentence there is liaison with outside Social Workers and other agencies regarding ongoing support.
Attempts to limit the damaging consequences of imprisonment by maintaining the links between the prisoner and their family.
Advises the Parole Board through the parole reports about a prisoners response to imprisonment and the risks posed on release.
All prisoners are entitled to seek Social Work assistance but some issues might be dealt with by prison officers, eg housing matters.
Funded by the Scottish Prison Service.

Where a prisoner is sentenced to imprisonment of 4 years or more they become eligible for parole, ie they are released early under strict supervision in the community.
Failure to abide by the Parole Licence conditions can result in their return to prison to complete the sentence.
Release on parole is discretionary, so if the Parole Board are unhappy about releasing a prisoner the application will be denied.
The Parole Boards decision to release a prisoner is guided by reports from a number of agencies which include prison based and community based Social Workers.

This can be imposed by a court at the time of sentence on any high risk offender who is sentenced to between 1 and 4 years imprisonment.
Used where the court believes supervision will be a requirement after the offender has been released from prison.
It is directed at those offenders who are deemed to pose a potential or particular risk of violence to the community or harm to children, eg fire raisers, sex offenders.
If an offender fails to comply with the order they could be returned to prison.
Fills the gap for higher risk offenders who are not eligible for parole supervision.

Non-Core Services

Accommodation

Offenders in need can be placed in Huntly House (bail beds) or in John Clark House (probation beds) for a fixed period.
People are subject to hostel rules and if these are broken they can be evicted.
Provides stability for a set period.
Offenders who seem able to live independently but who need accommodation can be referred to SACRO, an organisation funded through the Criminal Justice Service.
SACRO staff provide support to the offender in conjunction with a supervising Social Worker.
If an offender is successful they can take over a tenancy that has been given to them via SACRO.
Difficult area as some offenders needing housing are sex offenders or arsonists.
All above are funded by the Criminal Justice Service.

Diversion From Prosecution

The Procurator Fiscal decides to refer a case to the Social Work Service rather than proceed with a prosecution.
Directed at minor offences.
Offender (alleged) must agree to work with Social Work on a particular issues, eg alcohol abuse, childcare issues.
Generally supervision is for a 3 month period.
A positive Social Work report at the end of the period will probably result in the Fiscal not proceeding further with a prosecution.
Remove lower level cases from the Court system.
Not currently funded through the Criminal Justice Service.

Voluntary Aftercare

Every prisoner is entitled to support from Social Work for up to 12 months following their release from prison.
There is no "requirement" for ex-prisoners to engage with Social Workers but if they chose to do so they can continue to see a Social Worker in the community in order to get help and support.

Victim Support

A charitable organisation which aims to help victims of crime.
Social Workers are involved in the training of Victim Support visitors and contribute to management schemes locally.
Schemes now exist throughout the Highland Council area.
The Criminal Justice Service does not fund Victim Support.

National Childrens Homes

Provides a challenging programme of work for higher risk offenders on probation orders.
Where the court orders a Social Enquiry Report it may include an assessment to be made by NCH on an offenders suitability on their programme.
Those taking part in the intensive programme are deemed to be at the higher end of the offending scale.
Referrals are for young men and women between the ages of 16 and 25 years.
This Service is funded by the Criminal Justice Service.

APEX Scotland

An organisation employed by the Criminal Justice Service to assist offenders with employment skills and training.
Funded by the Criminal Justice Service and other sources.

In This Section