Midlothian Community Safety & Justice Partnership

06/07/2023

Survey of Drug and Alcohol Services in Midlothian

Help shape the development of drug and alcohol services in Midlothian. We are looking to gather your views on recovery and treatment services, to identify what is working well, where there are gaps in service provision, and what areas of improvement are required to ensure that our services meet the needs of local people.

Please share with anyone affected by drug and alcohol use in Midlothian
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/5VGN8YM

24/08/2021

How Can We Stop People From Committing Crime In Midlothian?

The Midlothian Community Safety and Justice Partnership would like to hear from you.

What is Community Justice?
- It is a way to stop people from committing crime.
- It is a way of making sure everyone has access to services and support for the needs they have (for example drug or alcohol addiction, unemployment, homelessness, mental health needs).
- It is a way to help people lead positive lives so that fewer people will commit crime and fewer people will become a victim of crime.
- It is a way of getting people who live or work locally involved in decisions to make their communities safer.

How can you help?
- We want to know how we can improve our services so that fewer people will become involved in or be affected by crime.
- We want to know how we can support people with an offending history to make changes and give a positive contribution to society.

The survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/FMLDYR2 and will remain open until the 28th September. Please complete and share!

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

18/06/2021

It is with great pleasure to share Thriving Survivor's consultation paper on survivors’ views of restorative justice (domestic and sexual abuse). It’s a lengthy read, but a powerful one.

http://www.thrivingsurvivors.co.uk/uploads/1/0/8/6/108624537/restorative_justice_-_survivors_voices_-_consultation_report.pdf

We are hopeful that the voices of survivors will help to steer the discussion where it needs to go, as we develop Restorative Justice in Scotland.

This useful animation of Restorative Justice in Scotland helps raise awareness on the process.

https://youtu.be/kKO4xSQvpWQ

08/06/2021

Scotland is home to a unique community of volunteers raising hands is a moment to thank those who offer their time to help others. We're reminded of the remarkable stories of compassion in Community Justice Scotland's clip: https://youtube.com/watch?v=gO30Ch7DXCw&t=2s with a special mention given to the Midlothian Spring Service.

Spring is a structured groupwork programme for women in Midlothian who would benefit from support with mental health, substance use and experience of past or current trauma and/or abuse.

Well done ladies!

During 2020, a year in which we have been kept apart, our communities have grown closer than ever. We’ve decided to share your remarkable stories of kindness...

26/05/2021

Campaign Calls for Scotland to Reduce Remand Prisoner Population

Delays in court proceedings during the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that more prisoners are being held on remand for longer periods, and the number of Scottish prisoners on remand has grown by almost 80%.

Remand is often the first experience of prison for many people, and emotional, psychological, and financial impacts are devastating. Remand prisoners spend more time in their cells and have fewer opportunities than those who have been convicted. They are cut off from their community, they do not receive access to education, counselling services or other support that they may need. The incidence of su***de among remand prisoners is a particular cause for concern.

Marguerite Schinkel, a Lecturer based at the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, said: ‘Scotland positions itself as having a progressive and fair criminal justice system, but these numbers paint a very different picture. Even more so given that, by the Scottish Government’s own admission, 57% of people on remand do not go on to receive a prison sentence; they are either found innocent, get a community sentence or have been on remand so long that they’ve already served more than their actual sentence.’

Please join the social media campaign and follow and for a week of action to raise awareness of the current situation

12/05/2021

Community Justice Scotland have teamed up with Victim Support Scotland to produce an illustration, adapted from a real victim's journey.

A poignant reminder during of the importance of support services for those involved with the justice system. Victim Support Scotland provides invaluable emotional support & practical guidance both in courts and within communities. Visit: https://victimsupport.scot/

Find out more here: https://communityjustice.scot/.../experienced-voices-a.../

13/04/2021

Community Payback Orders are an alternative to short-term prison sentences, where people with an offending history pay their debt to communities by carrying out unpaid work. By paying back in time and hard work, as well as developing new skills, people confront and end their offending behaviour.

A recent Midlothian study found that of all people given unpaid work as part of their community payback order, half did not commit another crime in the three years after they completed the order.

Of those people who did go on to commit another crime, the number of charges (crimes) dropped by an average of 61%.

16/02/2021

Do you know a child or young person with a family member in prison?

Every year in Scotland it is estimated that more than 20,000 children and young people are affected by parental imprisonment, this figure does not include those with another family member in prison.

Families Outside is supporting families through ‘Our Voice’ Peer Support Group. The group offers peer support to children and young people aged between 8-18 years affected by imprisonment. The group is delivered via Zoom online (during lockdown) and is for all children, young people and families whether they have regular contact with their family member in prison, or no contact at all.

The next Peer Support Group will be held on Thursday 25th February, 6 – 7.30pm Via Zoom.

If you know of any children or young people who are affected by imprisonment and would be interested in coming to the Peer Support Group please share the group details and contact Families Outside to make a referral. If you know of any children or young people who are unable to come to the group but would still like support please contact Families Outside to discuss this further

11/02/2021

Midlothian Community Justice Partnership (CJP) have created a booklet to raise awareness about what Community Justice is, and to act as a directory to signpost individuals within communities to services and support networks that will help to make positive life changes.

From housing and accommodation support, education and training opportunities, useful local contacts, signposts to alcohol and drug misuse services, mental and physical health services, and support for victims and families of those involved in the justice system.

01/02/2021

Everybody enters the justice system at the same point, but there are many possible exits.

These illustrations depict just four experiences; there are an indeterminate number of possible journeys...

29/01/2021

Shining a light on Midlothian!

In light of proposed measures to reduce the unpaid work backlog Community Justice Scotland are shining a spotlight on the brilliant unpaid work that has benefitted communities throughout the pandemic. Read our story at http://bit.ly/CJSUPW

It would mean the backlog of unpaid work hours in existing community payback orders could be reduced by 35% (with exceptions).

28/01/2021

DO YOU UNDERSTAND SCOTLAND’S JUSTICE SYSTEM?

Community Justice Scotland have created an interactive, digital map showing the key stages of the Scottish justice system and the range of possible journeys from an alleged crime through to multiple exit points.

https://communityjustice.scot/scottish_justice_system/

To improve the justice system, we must first understand it, the processes involved and the complexities that people face when navigating it.

27/01/2021

An exciting opportunity in our team for a Community Safety and Justice Manager - check it out

https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/councils/midlothian-council/jobs/community-safety-and-justice-manager-207293

View details and apply for this Adult Care job in Dalkeith with Midlothian Council on myjobscotland

30/12/2020

Over 500 face coverings have been made by a few of our Unpaid work clients since November which have been distributed around Midlothian community groups, Sure Start nurseries, Cyrenians, food banks, volunteer groups and charity shops.

Below are some quotes from Unpaid Work clients that have taken part in making masks/ face coverings:

“ I paid back to the community by the work that I done...by providing people with masks during the Covid-19 pandemic I am helping to keep people safe. I also refreshed my sewing skills after 30 odd years!!”

“There are some folk/families out there that cannot afford to buy their own masks, so I was really happy to be helping them out... I even made masks for children so they felt included”

“I enjoyed completing my hours making face coverings, it was therapeutic and I got the satisfaction knowing I was helping protect people from the covid... Hopefully my work has paid off to many people that have received them”

27/11/2020

On Monday 30th November the Management of Offenders Act will become Law. Some 80,000 individuals will no longer need to disclose minor or previous convictions. This will prove lifechanging, and help those into work - which we know has a significant impact on preventing reoffending. This powerful video has been published by RecruitWithConviction

https://youtu.be/D3_8pF4IzVE

24/11/2020

ALISS is an online database of all support services available both in Midlothian and nationally. From employment support, to foodbanks, family groups, financial advice services and mental health supports.

Super easy to navigate, just pop in your postcode and hit return.

https://www.aliss.org/

ALISS (A Local Information System for Scotland) is a service to help you find help and support close to you when you need it most.

24/11/2020

NOVA Recovery recently carried out some research on the concerning topic of underage drinking on Scotland. This infographic explores the amounts being consumed by Scottish teens in comparison to the rest of Europe and the increasingly worrying consequences of these behaviours.

'https://novarecovery.co.uk/exploring-scotlands-underage-drinking-problem/'>

24/11/2020

We are pleased to announce our Community Justice Outcome Improvement Plan 2020-23. This exciting new plan sets out our Community Justice priorities for the next three years and the 40 actions that our statutory, non-statutory and third sector partners will take collectively to prevent and reduce reoffending and improve outcomes for all those involved in the Justice system.

Please read our plan at
https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/4034/community_justice_2020-23_delivery_framework.pdf