healthscotland.com

Background and Rationale

The national alcohol strategy document, ‘Changing Scotland’s Relationship with Alcohol: A Framework for Action’ outlined the Scottish Government’s commitment to conducting a review of current plans and practice for the identification and treatment of offenders with alcohol problems in criminal justice settings and the identification of good practice.

Research Aims and Objectives

The aim of this study is to inform policy by mapping plans, arrangements and procedures in place in local areas to identify and intervene with offenders with alcohol problems, as part of the criminal justice process or otherwise in community settings including identifying emerging good practice. The key objectives are:

• To conduct a desktop exercise identifying the relevant literature/documentation on effective interventions for identifying and treating offenders with alcohol problems in community justice settings.
• Describe, where possible, the nature and scale of alcohol problems of offenders in community justice settings from routine data.
• To map and describe what plans and arrangements are in place to identify, intervene and direct into treatment offenders with alcohol problems as either (a) part of a Criminal Justice process or (b) as a non Criminal Justice process across Scotland.
• To map and describe the interventions that are being delivered and the extent to which they fit with good practice (e.g. are interventions evidence based /accredited).
• To map and identify and report on gaps in service provision.

Methods and Timeframe

The methods in the study will combine elements of quantitative and qualitative methodology, including mapping of all eight Community Justice Authority areas. The study commenced in March 2010.

Back to main page