Justice Services
We are responsible for providing justice services for people resident in the council area. These include assessing the risk and circumstances of people who are currently in the justice system, either in our community or in custody.
Core services include:
- assessment reports such as Court Reports and Home Circumstances Reports, which contribute to the decisions made by the Courts and the Parole Board as to whether someone who has committed an offence is able to remain in or return to the community
- supervision and monitoring of those people placed on a range of court and post-release orders and licences, all of which are intended to reduce both risk of re-offending and risk of harmful behaviour towards others
- provision of unpaid work opportunities for people otherwise at risk of custody.
Justice Services are responsible for the management of Community Payback Orders. If you have a possible project to be carried out by our service users as part of their Community Payback, please use our Community Payback Work Request Form (opens new window).
In order to achieve these aims, staff in Justice Services work closely with other organisations. These include other areas of the council's social work services, such as Children and Families teams and services for people with mental health problems, housing providers, health services, Police Scotland and other partners in the justice system.
West Lothian's Justice Teams and their Services
The number of services run by Social Policy's Justice Service has increased dramatically in the past twenty years. We note here the structure of our service, to help you understand the different teams and the services that each one provides.
Risk Assessment and Management
The assessment and management of risk of re-offending and risk of harm is a key responsibility for Justice Service. On this web-page, we discuss what risk is, how it is measured, and how organisations work together to reduce risk for individuals and communities.
Prison-based Social Work at Addiewell Prison
The Prison-based Social Work team is employed by West Lothian Council to provide a social work service to prisoners in HMP Addiewell who will be subject to statutory supervision on release.
Bail Services
West Lothian Justice Service assists the courts in a range of ways in the use of Bail. Here we explain what Bail is, and the ways that we work with the courts and with accused people to maximise the use of Bail rather than custodial remand.
Children and Young People Who Offend
The Youth Justice Team in West Lothian works with young people aged 8-21 years old who offend. This includes young people who are involved in either the Children's Hearing system or the adult Justice System. On this page, we explain the approaches that we use.
Community Payback Order
The Community Payback Order replaces the former sentences of Probation, Community Service and Supervised Attendance Orders.
Court Orders involving unpaid work in the community
West Lothian Justice Service currently operates different types of unpaid work order: Community Payback Order , Community Service Order , Probation Order with condition of Unpaid Work, and the Procurator Fiscal Work Offer. All these orders offer someone who has committed an offence the opportunity to carry out useful work within the community.
Court Reports
Court reports are an important means of helping the courts in making decisions about sentencing. We explain what they are for, why they may be legally required, and who may read them.
Court Services
Location of West Lothian courts, role of Court social work staff and other agencies in court.
Justice Throughcare
West Lothian Council is responsible for the supervision of those in prison (on statutory Throughcare) or who have been released subject to Licence. We are also required to respond to requests for assistance from other prisoners, which can be made within one year of release.
Diversion from Prosecution Scheme
The Diversion from Prosecution Scheme involves joint working between the Procurator Fiscal and the Justice Service. Support is offered to individuals who are considered to be at very low risk of offending, or whose offences are apparently not part of a regular pattern of behaviour.
Drug Treatment and Testing Orders
A Drug Testing and Treatment Order (DTTO) is a court order that is aimed at assisting those on licence/order to reduce their drug use and related offending.
Fines and Compensation Orders
Scottish courts use fines and compensation orders more than any other sentence. The Justice Service now has a restricted role in this area of work. We include full information about fines and compensation for the benefit of people given such a sentence.
Restriction of Liberty Orders
A Restriction of Liberty Order is a court order that requires a person to remain within their home at times specified by the court. Their compliance with the order is monitored electronically, by the person wearing a 'tag'. These orders are not managed by the Youth Justice Service, although we help the courts decide on the appropriateness of this sentence through court reports.
Support and Advice for Families
Imprisonment of a family member can have a negative impact on family life and can lead problems with money and managing the home, relationship breakdowns, mental wellbeing, and other health issues.
Working with People - confidentiality, communication, consultation and comments
How the Justice Service works with the issues of confidentiality, communication, consultation and comments.
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