Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill
The Bill makes changes to the law in relation to the care of children and the involvement of children in the criminal justice system.
The changes relate to the children’s hearings system and several parts of the criminal justice system. This includes courts that hear cases relating to children and the places where children can be detained.
The Bill is at Stage 1
Contents
Introduced
The Scottish Government introduces the Bill and accompanying documents to the Parliament which publishes the Bill.
The Bill was introduced on 13 December 2022
Bill as introduced
Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill as introduced (2MB, pdf) posted 13 December 2022
Related information from the Scottish Government on the bill
Explanatory Notes
Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill explanatory notes (302KB, pdf) posted 13 December 2022
Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill explanatory notes (print version) (434KB, pdf) posted 13 December 2022
Explanation of the Bill
Policy Memorandum
Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill policy memorandum (651KB, pdf) posted 13 December 2022
Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill policy memorandum (print version) (819KB, pdf) posted 13 December 2022
Why the Bill is being introduced
Financial Memorandum
Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill financial memorandum (205KB, pdf) posted 13 December 2022
Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill financial memorandum (print version) (328KB, pdf) posted 13 December 2022
How much the Bill is likely to cost
Delegated Powers Memorandum
Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill delegated powers memorandum (172KB, pdf) posted 13 December 2022
Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill delegated powers memorandum (print version) (239KB, pdf) posted 13 December 2022
Information on the powers the Bill gives the Scottish Ministers and others to make “secondary legislation” (usually regulations) and to the Scottish Ministers (such as to make guidance).
Statements on Legislative Competence
Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill legislative competence statements (94KB, pdf) posted 13 December 2022
Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill legislative competence statements (print version) (144KB, pdf) posted 13 December 2022
Statements on whether the Bill is within the Parliament’s “legislative competence” (if the Parliament has the power to make the changes to the law proposed by the Bill).
Scottish Parliament research on the Bill
Read the research done by the Scottish Parliament on specific parts of the Bill: