Criminal Justice Committee
The Committee was established in June 2026. It focuses on matters relating to criminal justice in Scotland including:
- criminal law
- Police Scotland
- prosecution and the work of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
- the criminal courts
- the Scottish Prison Service
- the role of the Lord Advocate as the Scottish Government’s principal legal adviser and representative in civil proceedings.
Next meeting of the committee
Start time:
9:30am, Wednesday 23 September 2026
Location: Committee Room 6
Agenda:
- Decisions on taking business in private
- Instrument subject to annulment
- Armed Forces Bill (UK Parliament legislation) – approach
- Domestic abuse, advocacy and victim experience – evidence
- Justice response to domestic abuse – evidence
- Review of evidence
- Armed Forces Bill (UK Parliament legislation) – report
Dates for future meetings
The Criminal Justice Committee usually meets on Wednesday.
Previous meetings of the committee
Work of the Committee
Current work
Correspondence
Correspondence
Criminal Justice Committee
9 September 2026 Evidence Session Follow-up: Children First
22 September 2026
Correspondence to the Convener from Children First, 18 September 2026
Criminal Justice Committee
Future Police Conduct Regulations
22 September 2026
Letter from Stephen Kerr MSP to the Convener, 21 September 2026
Criminal Justice Committee
Response to the Scottish Affairs Committee, September 2026
17 September 2026
Correspondence from the Convener to Patricia Ferguson MP, Chair, Scottish Affairs Committee, House of Commons, Westminster, UK Parliament, 17 September 2026
Official Reports of meetings
Official Reports of meetings
Meeting date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Decisions on Taking Business in Private, Deputy Convener, Front-line Policing and Non-criminal Demands, Interagency Responses to People in Distress
Meeting date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Courts, Delays and Workforce, Courts and Court Users
Meeting date: Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Criminal Justice (Scottish Government Priorities), Prison Operations, Remand and Bail, Armed Forces Bill
Meeting date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Scotland’s Prisons, Subordinate Legislation
Meeting date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Interests, Deputy Convener, Decision on Taking Business in Private
Committee Remit
To consider and report on matters relating to criminal justice falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, and functions of the Lord Advocate other than as head of the systems of criminal prosecution and investigation of deaths in Scotland
Current Members
David Linden
Convener
Scottish National Party
Ben Macpherson
Deputy Convener
Scottish National Party
Amanda Bland
Member
Reform UK
Maggie Chapman
Member
Scottish Green Party
Stephen Kerr
Member
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Marie McNair
Member
Scottish National Party
Pauline McNeill
Member
Scottish Labour
Full details of committee membership, including substitute and previous members