Diversion from Prosecution
A Diversion from Prosecution scheme has operated in the Borders for a number of years and has been an important part of the overall provision of Criminal Justice Social Work Services. The scheme works on ‘deferred prosecution’ model, and no category of offence is automatically excluded from the scheme.
Diversion from Prosecution is an appropriate way of delivering effective help to people who offend, particularly where it is not in the public interest to prosecute when it can serve to reduce the likelihood of re-offending.
Objectives
- To provide a service which enables the Procurator Fiscal to divert appropriate people from prosecution. The Procurator Fiscal can be contacted at Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (this link will take you to another website).
- To focus on the target groups identified by the Scottish Government – women, young people, people who have mental health needs (including people with learning disabilities) and problem drug and alcohol users.
- To work with offenders in ways which reduce the likelihood of further offending.
- To publish a range of performance information annually on diversion services and to enhance our accountability to funders, courts and the community.
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