Chamber and committees

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.

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Next meeting of the committee

Details of the next meeting are not available yet.

Dates for future meetings

The Criminal Justice Committee usually meets on Wednesday.

Previous meetings of the committee

See all meetings of the committee

Work of the Committee

Work of the Committee: Current work

Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Armed Forces Bill (UK Parliament Legislation)

Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2027-28

Work of the Committee: Future work

The Committee outlines its six strategic themes and planned scrutiny work for Session 7.

Read the Committee's thematic priorities and planned scrutiny work

Work of the Committee: Correspondence

Correspondence

Criminal Justice Committee

Victim Support Scotland supplementary evidence

8 October 2026

Victim Support Scotland supplementary evidence, 8 October, following meeting on 30 September 2026

Criminal Justice Committee

Scottish Police Federation supplementary evidence following 16 September meeting

7 October 2026

Follow up evidence from Scottish Police Federation following 16 September meeting, 7 October 2026

Criminal Justice Committee

Community Payback Order Requirements

6 October 2026

Letter from the Scottish Sentencing Council, 6 October 2026

See all of this committee's correspondence

Work of the Committee: Official Reports of meetings

Official Reports of meetings

Criminal Justice Committee

Meeting date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation, Custodial and Community Sentences, Victims’ Perspectives

Criminal Justice Committee

Meeting date: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation, Armed Forces Bill, Domestic Abuse (Advocacy and Victim Experience), Domestic Abuse (Justice Response)

Criminal Justice Committee

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

Criminal Justice Committee

Meeting date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Courts, Delays and Workforce, Courts and Court Users

Criminal Justice Committee

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

Criminal Justice Committee

Meeting date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Scotland’s Prisons, Subordinate Legislation

Criminal Justice Committee

Meeting date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Interests, Deputy Convener, Decision on Taking Business in Private

See all of this committee's Official Reports

Work of the Committee: Reports

Committee reports

The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Transfer of Functions and Members of the Police Appeals Tribunal) Amendment Regulations 2026 [draft]

2nd Report, 2026 (Session 7)

Published: 08 October 2026

Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Armed Forces Bill

1st Report, 2026 (Session 7)

Published: 23 September 2026

See all of this committee's reports

Work of the Committee: 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