Criminal Justice Committee
The Committee was established in June 2021. It focuses on the Criminal Justice system in Scotland, including:
- Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
- Courts, including the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
- Prosecution and the work of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
- The Scottish Prison Service and community sentencing
Next meeting of the committee
Start time:
10:00am, Wednesday 17 September 2025
Location: T4.60-CR6 The Livingstone Room
Agenda:
- Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons
- Subordinate legislation
- Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons (in private)
- Work programme (in private)
Dates for future meetings
The Criminal Justice Committee usually meets weekly on Wednesdays.
Previous meetings of the committee
Work of the Committee
Current work
Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill
Cybercrime
Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Crime and Policing Bill
Policing and mental health
Pre-budget scrutiny 2026-27
Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill
Priorities in the justice sector and an Action Plan
Prison Population
Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill
Reducing drug deaths in Scotland and tackling problem drug use
Research on the impact of the UK’s exit from membership of the EU on law enforcement and judicial cooperation in Scotland
Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Completed work
Access to court transcripts for victims and survivors of rape and sexual offences
Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill
Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and Exemption Schemes) (Scotland) Order 2024
Dangerous Dogs (Designated Types) (Scotland) Order 2024
Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill
Legislative Consent Memorandum for the Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Criminal Justice Bill
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Online Safety Bill
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Public Order Bill
Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill
Post-Legislative Scrutiny of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018
Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2023-24
Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2024-25
Pre-budget scrutiny 2025-26
Work programme
Future work
The following has been agreed as the future work of the Committee. It will be updated on a regular basis. It is subject to change.
For further details or questions, please contact the clerks to the Committee.
Wednesday 10 September 2025
- Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons - oral evidence
- Work programme (in private)
Wednesday 17 September 2025
- Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons - oral evidence
Wednesday 24 September 2025
- Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons - oral evidence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Criminal/Civil Justice Interface in Relation to Domestic Abuse
11 September 2025
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs to the Convener, 11 September 2025
Supplementary information on the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill
9 September 2025
Letter from Ash Regan MSP to the Convener, 9 September 2025
Victims, Witnesses. and Justice Reform Scotland Bill Stage 3
5 September 2025
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs to the Convener, 5 September 2025
Official Reports of meetings
Official Reports of meetings
Meeting date: Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Substance Misuse in Prisons
Meeting date: Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1, Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1, Fatal Accident Inquiries and Deaths in Custody
Meeting date: Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Subordinate Legislation, Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
Meeting date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation, Substance Misuse in Prisons
Meeting date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Substance Misuse in Prisons, Subordinate Legislation
Meeting date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Non-fatal Strangulation
Meeting date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Cybercrime, Secure Accommodation
Meeting date: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Subordinate Legislation, Law Enforcement and Judicial Co-operation (European Union)
Meeting date: Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation, People’s Panel on Tackling Drug Harm and Deaths
Meeting date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
Reports
Committee reports
A report by the Criminal Justice Committee on the Home Detention Curfew (Amendment of Specified Time Periods) (Scotland) Order 2025 [draft].
A report by the Criminal Justice Committee on the Restitution Fund (Scotland) Order 2025 [draft] .
Annual Report of the Criminal Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament for the Parliamentary Year May 2024 to May 2025.
Committee Remit
To consider and report on matters relating to criminal justice falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, and functions of the Lord Advocate other than as head of the systems of criminal prosecution and investigation of deaths in Scotland.
Current Members
Audrey Nicoll
Convener
Scottish National Party
Liam Kerr
Deputy Convener
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Katy Clark
Member
Scottish Labour
Sharon Dowey
Member
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Fulton MacGregor
Member
Scottish National Party
Rona Mackay
Member
Scottish National Party
Ben Macpherson
Member
Scottish National Party
Pauline McNeill
Member
Scottish Labour
Full details of committee membership, including substitute and previous members