JDSG
In 2009 Capability Scotland was part of an innovative project
with the Justice Disability Steering Group (JDSG). On this
page you can find all the information and reports from the
project. We will also update you on progress here.
The JDSG was set up in 2007 by organisations representing the
justice sector in Scotland. It is comprised of the Scottish
Government, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland,
the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the Scottish Court
Service, the Law Society of Scotland, the Scottish Legal Aid Board
and the Scottish Prison Service.
The JDSG contracted Capability Scotland to manage an involvement
programme with disabled people from June to December 2009.
This project aimed to establish a multi-agency approach to the
long-term involvement of disabled people that would ultimately
improve access to the justice system for disabled people.
This model for engaging, consulting and involving disabled
people can now be taken forward by Justice Sector agencies, either
individually or collaboratively, in order to fulfill their public
sector duty to involve disabled people in policy making.
Capability Scotland used a four-stage process to engage and
involve disabled people:
- A paper and web-based survey exploring access to justice
- Public involvement events with disabled people
- Involvement events with disabled prisoners
- A national Conference attended by disabled people and justice
practitioners
The process of involvement at each stage was designed to ensure
that the widest range of disabled people were given the opportunity
to share their own experiences of the justice system and offer
their views as to how barriers to accessing justice might best be
removed. You can find links to the involvement reports
on the right.
The JDSG is now implementing the recommendations made by
Capability Scotland and working together to improve access to
justice for disabled people in Scotland.
For further information, please contact consultancy@capability-scotland.org.uk
