News & Events - 

Justice

A collection of informative articles along with up to date news and upcoming events.

It's time to shift towards more sustainable and effective justice solutions

Scotland’s overburdened prison estate currently houses a population of around 8,000 people, a figure that puts it among the highest per capita in western Europe. With that number projected to rise in the coming months, the time to shift towards more sustainable and effective justice solutions is now.

Fighting With Pride

Fighting with Pride support LGBT+ Veterans, serving personnel and their families, particularly those who were affected by the ‘gay ban’, ultimately lifted in January 2000. Before then, thousands of LGBT+ service personnel were removed or forced from service and abandoned, after serving with pride.

Shining On - Victoria's Story

#VolunteersWeekScot

Shining On - Holly's Story

#VolunteersWeekScot

Travel Service - William's Story

#VolunteersWeekScot

Shine Celebrates a Decade of Helping Women Build Brighter Futures with Report Launch

Shine, a national mentoring service for women with recent experience of the justice system in Scotland, proudly marked its 10-year anniversary at the iconic Edinburgh City Chambers today

Funding for Veterans Mentoring Service

Sacro is delighted to have received funding from the Veterans Foundation.

Sacro’s Travel Service in Edinburgh is now recruiting volunteer drivers

Do you enjoy driving, meeting new people and making a difference?

Lothian Veterans Centre: Bacon Roll Morning

The Lothian Veterans Centre (LVC) runs a drop-in centre for forces veterans living in the Dalkeith, Midlothian and surrounding locality.

Armed forces veterans complete John Muir Way

For 14 weeks from August to November, serving personnel from 6SCOTS joined staff from Sacro’s Veterans Mentoring and Forces of Nature services, to complete the John Muir Way. They were accompanied along the way by armed forces veterans who have received Sacro support.

Executive Opportunities at Sacro

Sacro is currently recruiting two influential executive positions at Sacro: Head of Justice Services and Head of Policy and Engagement.

National Lottery Funding to Support Armed Forces Veterans in Scotland

Sacro has received funding to continue delivering its Veterans Mentoring Service (VMS) throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians for a further three years. The award from The National Lottery Community Fund, made possible by National Lottery players, comes at a time of increased demand for the service. 

Shine Stories

Women who have been involved in the Scottish justice system are relating their experiences, and the support they received from the Shine Women's Mentoring service, in a new podcast.

Primary School Loves its New Playground Furniture

Sacro’s Community Payback Service (CPS) in Glasgow has provided a local primary school with some fabulous new playground furniture.

Armed Forces Veterans Take to the Stage

A group of armed forces veterans serving community sentences in West Dunbartonshire have devised a PTSD-themed stage play which they recently performed online for a small, invited audience. The time they spent in these workshops counted towards the community sentence hours they had been issued by the court.

Using beekeeping to help veterans' recovery

Our Veteran’s Mentoring Service is about to embark on the new and exciting challenge of beekeeping! The idea originated during a visit to Sacro by author Alexander McCall Smith CBE FRSE when it was brought to his attention that one of the people using our service – who was present at the time – mentioned that he looked after the beehives while in prison.

Sacro ready to support prisoners released during pandemic

Sacro fully understands the need to implement an early release of individuals from custody; for their safety and that of prison staff. We are also acutely aware that – although there is a need for urgency – any arrangements put in place must be robust and have community safety at their heart.

The Shine Women’s Mentoring Service is responding to meet the needs of women in Scotland’s prisons.

Following the announcement to temporarily suspend the Scottish Prison Service’s Throughcare Support Service on 13 September, the Shine Public Social Partnership is responding to work with women released from short-term prison sentences of up to four years who were previously supported by the Scottish Prison Service. Shine is a Public Social Partnership led by Sacro with third sector partners: Wise Group, Apex, Access to Industry, Turning Point Scotland, Barnardos, Circle and Venture Trust, supported by Scottish Government, Scottish Prison Service and Social Work Scotland.

Sacro welcomes extension of presumption against short sentences

Sacro regards the proposed extension of the presumption against short-term prison sentences from three to 12 months as a welcome development with the potential to reduce Scotland’s prison population safely and with a greater focus on effective rehabilitation through the use of community sentences.

Sacro welcomes reduction in reconviction figures

The release of reconviction figures for 2015/2016 have shown a continued fall in reconviction rates in Scotland. Commenting on the figures, Sacro's Chief Executive, Tom Halpin said: "Sacro welcomes the progress being made in tackling reconviction rates which are a real indicator of persistent offending within our communities.