Chamber and committees

Structured Deferred Sentences are primarily aimed at offenders with underlying problems such as drug or alcohol dependency, mental health or learning difficulties or who are unemployed.

The Scottish Government has not provided guidance on the use of structured deferred sentences. Courts are responsible for deciding on the most appropriate sentence in the light of the information provided in the Social Enquiry Report and having regard to the full circumstances of the case.

No specific guidance is being issued. However, the court must obtain a Social Enquiry Report before considering use of structured deferred sentences as a sentencing option.

When imposing a structured deferred sentence the court has the option of imposing a condition that if the offender fails to comply they are to be returned to court. Where such a condition has not been imposed and the offender fails to comply with the requirements of a structured deferred sentence, the social work department cannot refer the case back to court before the end of the deferment period.

S3W-9698 was answered on 24 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11258 on 17 April. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) provides forensic science services to Scottish police forces. The SPSA budget for forensic science services, which includes DNA testing, was £24.3 million in 2007-08. This was funded as part of SPSA''s overall Grant-In-Aid of £83.1 million which was paid by the Scottish Government and included provision for SPSA''s VAT liability. The relationship between the forensic services provided by SPSA and individual police forces is covered by detailed Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and there is no direct cost to police forces for forensic science, provided it comes within the scope of a SLA. No additional charges were imposed on Scottish police forces by SPSA in respect of forensic services in 2007-08. Police investigations are operational matters for chief There has been no suggestion either from SPSA or police forces that the cost of DNA testing acts as a barrier to police investigations.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11258 on 17 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11258 on 17 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11258 on 17 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.