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:
9:30am, Wednesday 11 March 2026
Location: T4.60-CR6 The Livingstone Room
Agenda:
- Decision on taking business in private
- State of the criminal justice system and challenges for session 7
- Public petitions
- Subordinate legislation
- Subordinate legislation
- Legacy report
Dates for future meetings
The Criminal Justice Committee usually meets weekly on Wednesdays.
Previous meetings of the committee
Work of the Committee
Current work
Cybercrime
Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Crime and Policing Bill
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Sentencing Bill
Policing and mental health
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
Scrutiny of the 2026-27 Budget
Completed work
Access to court transcripts for victims and survivors of rape and sexual offences
Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill
Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (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
Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill
Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
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 4 March
- Reflections on the budget proposed for 2026-27 and Scottish Spending Review - oral evidence
- Subordinate legislation
- State of the criminal justice system and challenges for session 7
- Annual Report
Wednesday 11 March
- TBC
Wednesday 18 March
- TBC
Correspondence
Correspondence
Criminal Justice Committee
Consultation on Protections in the Justice System for Women and Girls
26 February 2026
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs to the Convener, 26 February 2026
Criminal Justice Committee
24 February 2026
Letter from For Women Scotland to the Convener, 24 February 2026
Criminal Justice Committee
20 February 2026
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs to the Convener, 20 February 2026
Official Reports of meetings
Official Reports of meetings
Meeting date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Subordinate Legislation, Crime and Policing Bill, Subordinate Legislation
Meeting date: Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation, Policing and Mental Health
Meeting date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Budget 2026-27 and Scottish Spending Review
Meeting date: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
Meeting date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation
Meeting date: Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Meeting date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Sentencing Bill, Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Meeting date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Meeting date: Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (Service Delivery Review)
Meeting date: Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1, Pre-budget Scrutiny 2026-27, Subordinate Legislation
Reports
Committee reports
Cross-Committee on Tackling Drug Deaths and Drug Harm Session 6 Legacy Report
Published: 06 March 2026
Published: 06 March 2026
A report by the Criminal Justice Committee on the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 (Characteristic of Sex) (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2026 [draft]
Published: 04 March 2026
A report by the Criminal Justice Committee on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exclusions and Exceptions) (Domestic Homicide and Suicide Reviews) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2026 [draft].
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
Jamie Hepburn
Member
Scottish National Party
Fulton MacGregor
Member
Scottish National Party
Rona Mackay
Member
Scottish National Party
Pauline McNeill
Member
Scottish Labour
Full details of committee membership, including substitute and previous members