Background

In 2005 the Scottish Executive consulted on reforms to the criminal justice system in Scotland in order to reduce re-offending. This identified the need to make sure that criminal justice agencies work in partnership with other key agencies to break the cycle of offending and reoffending.

As a result the Management of Offenders etc (Scotland) Act 2005 was passed. Part of the Act set up eight Community Justice Authorities across Scotland.

The National Strategy for the Management of Offenders was published in May 2006. The strategy sets out the National Outcomes which we are all working towards. It also defines the role and purpose of CJAs and other bodies involved in the management of offenders.

CJAs give a co-ordinated approach to planning and monitoring the delivery of offender services. We do this by planning, managing performance and reporting on performance by local authorities or groups of local authorities. Our aim is to target services to reduce reoffending and to make sure that community and prison services work closely together to aid the rehabilitation of offenders.

Each CJA consists of a Chief Officer, elected members of local authorities and support staff.

All eight CJAs took up their full responsibilities in April 2007.

Scottish Ministers approved the Area Plans 2008-11 for each CJA in December 2007.