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:
9:00am, Wednesday 04 November 2026
Location: Committee Room 6
Agenda:
- Decisions on taking business in private
- Pre-Budget scrutiny – evidence
- Instruments relating to Police conduct regulations – evidence
- Review of evidence
- Work programme (in private)
Dates for future meetings
The Criminal Justice Committee usually meets on Wednesday.
Previous meetings of the committee
Work of the Committee
Current work
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
Correspondence
Correspondence
Criminal Justice Committee
Letter to UNISON Pre budget scrutiny 2027 28
29 October 2026
Letter to UNISON, Pre-budget scrutiny 2027-28
Criminal Justice Committee
Pre budget scrutiny 2027 28 Letter from UNISON
29 October 2026
Letter from UNISON Pre-budget scrutiny 2027-28
Criminal Justice Committee
Police Conduct Amendment Regulations 2026 letter from the Cabinet Secretary
27 October 2026
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Police Conduct Amendment Regulations 2026
Official Reports of meetings
Official Reports of meetings
Meeting date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation, Pre-budget Scrutiny
Meeting date: Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Criminal Justice Reform, Subordinate Legislation
Meeting date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation, Custodial and Community Sentences, Victims’ Perspectives
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)
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
Reports
Committee reports
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
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
Independent
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