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
Details of the next meeting are not available yet.
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
Pre-budget scrutiny 2026-27
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
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 18 February
- Policing and mental health - oral evidence session
Wednesday 25 February
- TBC
Wednesday 4 March
- TBC
Correspondence
Correspondence
Criminal Justice Committee
2 February 2026
Letter from the Minister for Victims and Community Safety, 2 February 2026
Criminal Justice Committee
2 February 2026
Submission from Police Scotland, 2 February 2026
Criminal Justice Committee
30 January 2026
Response from Ash Regan MSP, Member in Charge of the Bill, 30 January 2026
Official Reports of meetings
Official Reports of meetings
Meeting date: Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Meeting date: Monday, January 26, 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Meeting date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation
Meeting date: Monday, December 15, 2025
Petitions, Subordinate Legislation
Meeting date: Sunday, December 14, 2025
Dog Fouling, Subordinate Legislation
Meeting date: Friday, December 12, 2025
Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1, Committee Inquiry
Meeting date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1, Jury Trials
Meeting date: Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Meeting date: Friday, December 5, 2025
Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill
Reports
Committee reports
Published: 23 February 2026
A report by the Criminal Justice Committee on the Antisocial Behaviour (Fixed Penalty Offences) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2026 [draft].
Summary of Evidence of the Withdrawn Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill
Published: 13 February 2026
This report summarises evidence on the withdrawn Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill, covering proposed offender notification requirements, rehabilitation assessments, enhanced data collection, and domestic abuse education in schools. Stakeholders highlighted safety concerns, resource pressures, limited effectiveness of proposed measures, and the need to strengthen existing systems rather than create parallel structures.
Stage 1 Report on the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill
Published: 23 January 2026
A report by the Criminal Justice Committee on its Stage 1 scrutiny of the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill.
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
Katy Clark
Member
Scottish Labour
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