Transforming Justice in Scotland – Person-centred and Trauma-informed Approaches for Victims and Witnesses
- Submitted by: Angela Constance, Almond Valley, Scottish National Party.
- Date lodged: Thursday, 04 May 2023
- Motion reference: S6M-08865
- Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, 09 May 2023
Motions as amended
That the Parliament notes the publication of Trauma Informed Justice: A Knowledge and Skills Framework for Working with Victims and Witnesses, which identifies six key aims of a trauma-informed justice system; recognises that victims and survivors of crime and witnesses can be affected by trauma in many ways, and that there is, therefore, an imperative for the criminal justice system to be designed to be person-centred and trauma-informed, so that victims, survivors and witnesses are supported to recover from the harm and trauma and possible re-traumatisation that they have experienced; recognises the critical importance of staff having a shared understanding about the impact of trauma, and the knowledge and skills to minimise re-traumatisation and support recovery; notes the opportunity for the Parliament to further consider these issues through its scrutiny of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, which puts victims and witnesses at the heart of the justice system; further notes recent reports of poor experiences of victims within the justice system, including long waits for court cases to be heard and the re-traumatising effect of the legal process for victims of domestic abuse and rape; invites the Scottish Government to explore the potential benefits of expanding the independent legal representation available to victims, particularly in cases of rape; understands that reform of the justice system will only be successful if the current pressures on the justice system are addressed, and expresses its belief that further reforms must be developed and implemented cooperatively with those who work in the criminal justice sector in order to bring about effective and practical change for victims and witnesses.
Supported by:
Siobhian Brown
Original motion text
That the Parliament notes the publication of Trauma Informed Justice: A Knowledge and Skills Framework for Working with Victims and Witnesses, which identifies six key aims of a trauma-informed justice system; recognises that victims and survivors of crime and witnesses can be affected by trauma in many ways, and that there is, therefore, an imperative for the criminal justice system to be designed to be person-centred and trauma-informed, so that victims, survivors and witnesses are supported to recover from the harm and trauma and possible re-traumatisation that they have experienced; recognises the critical importance of staff having a shared understanding about the impact of trauma, and the knowledge and skills to minimise re-traumatisation and support recovery, and notes the opportunity for the Parliament to further consider these issues through its scrutiny of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, which puts victims and witnesses at the heart of the justice system.
Defeated amendments
Transforming Justice in Scotland – Person-centred and Trauma-informed Approaches for Victims and Witnesses - Amendment - Amendment
Submitted by: Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date lodged: Friday, May 5, 2023
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Result 31 for, 86 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote Vote Defeated
Amendments that have not been voted on
Transforming Justice in Scotland – Person-centred and Trauma-informed Approaches for Victims and Witnesses - Amendment - Amendment
Submitted by: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour, Date lodged: Friday, May 5, 2023
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Tuesday, May 9, 2023