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US-style court ditched over costs US-style court ditched over costs
(about 4 hours later)
Plans to introduce US-style community courts in Scotland have been ditched, it has been confirmed.Plans to introduce US-style community courts in Scotland have been ditched, it has been confirmed.
The project, which had been earmarked to run in the east end of Glasgow, has been shelved amid concern over costs.The project, which had been earmarked to run in the east end of Glasgow, has been shelved amid concern over costs.
Ministers said they were working to see if any aspects of the plan could still be salvaged.Ministers said they were working to see if any aspects of the plan could still be salvaged.
The community courts would have given offenders education, drug programmes and reparation orders rather than sending them to prison.The community courts would have given offenders education, drug programmes and reparation orders rather than sending them to prison.
The aim was to create a court based on the Red Hook Community Justice Centre in New York, which also accommodates drug treatment services, domestic violence counselling, job training and a medical unit for offenders.The aim was to create a court based on the Red Hook Community Justice Centre in New York, which also accommodates drug treatment services, domestic violence counselling, job training and a medical unit for offenders.
Decision 'understandable'Decision 'understandable'
Opposition politicians questioned where the decision would leave Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill's drive to boost community sentencing.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said the project board for the Glasgow Community Justice Centre agreed last month not to take the project in its current form forward to the next stage.A Scottish Government spokeswoman said the project board for the Glasgow Community Justice Centre agreed last month not to take the project in its current form forward to the next stage.
"This decision was taken on the basis of a project initiation document outlining the costs of creating and staffing a new court facility," said the spokeswoman."This decision was taken on the basis of a project initiation document outlining the costs of creating and staffing a new court facility," said the spokeswoman.
"Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government are discussing further how some of the service benefits which the court was designed to bring might still be realised.""Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government are discussing further how some of the service benefits which the court was designed to bring might still be realised."
Clive Fairweather, the former chief inspector of prisons in Scotland, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme he was "disappointed" by the decision.Clive Fairweather, the former chief inspector of prisons in Scotland, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme he was "disappointed" by the decision.
He added: "With money tight, I suppose it's understandable."He added: "With money tight, I suppose it's understandable."
Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker said: "This decision by Kenny MacAskill shows the recklessness of his plans to scrap sentences of less than six months when he's not prepared to invest in tough and effective community sentences or disposals."
Lib Dem Glasgow MSP Robert Brown said he was astonished and deeply disappointed.
"This was an innovative project with huge potential gains for the local community in Glasgow's east end," he said.