Minutes: 22 February 2023

1. Transgender prisoners and Scottish prisons:

The Committee took evidence from—

Keith Brown, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans and Neil Rennick, Director of Justice, Scottish Government;

Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive, Scottish Prison Service.

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Parole Board (Scotland) Rules 2022 from—

Keith Brown, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans, Scottish Government.

3. Subordinate legislation:

Jamie Greene moved—

S6M-07891—That the Criminal Justice Committee recommends that the Parole Board (Scotland) Rules 2022 be annulled.

After debate, the motion was with the agreement of the Committee, withdrawn.

4. Priorities in the Justice Sector and an Action Plan:

The Committee considered progress made on implementing the recommendations in the Committee’s report on the priorities for the criminal justice sector in Scotland.

5. Policing and mental health:

The Committee considered correspondence from Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority, the Scottish Police Federation and the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents. The Committee agreed to write to Police Scotland and to the recommendations at paragraphs 24 and 25 of Paper 4.

6. Virtual trials:

The Committee considered correspondence from the Lord Justice General, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and the Scottish Government.

7. Access to court transcripts:

The Committee considered correspondence from the Scottish Government. The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans, Rape Crisis and Scottish Women's Aid.

8. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill (In Private):

The Committee considered a draft Stage 1 report. Various changes were agreed to, and the Committee agreed to consider a revised draft, at its next meeting.