Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Consideration prior to Stage 3

Author: Frazer McCallum and Sarah Harvie-Clark

PDF Published: Thursday 15 May 2025 (SB 25-21)

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Overview
Report

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Overview
Report
- Summary
- Overview
- Part 1: Victims and Witnesses Commissioner for Scotland
  - Stage 1
  - Stage 2
- Part 2: Trauma-informed practice
  - Stage 1
  - Stage 2
- Part 3: Special measures in civil cases
  - Stage 1
  - Stage 2
- Part 4: Criminal juries and verdicts
  - Stage 1
  - Stage 2
- Part 5: Sexual Offences Court
  - Stage 1
  - Stage 2
- Part 6: Sexual offences cases - further reform
  - Anonymity for victims
    
    Stage 1
    
    Stage 2
  - Independent legal representation for complainers
    
    Stage 1
    
    Stage 2
  - Rape trials pilot
    
    Stage 1
    
    Stage 2
- Additional issues considered at Stage 2
  - Victim notification scheme
    
    Current provisions
    
    Independent review
    
    Proposed amendments
  - Victims and decisions on prosecution
    
    Decision not to prosecute or to discontinue a prosecution
    
    Decision to accept a guilty plea to a lesser charge
  - Non-harassment orders in criminal cases
    
    Current provisions
    
    Proposed amendments
  - Special measures in criminal cases
  - Victim statements
    
    Current provisions
    
    Proposed amendment
  - Release of prisoners on parole
    
    Current provisions
    
    Proposed amendments
  - Victim access to court transcripts
- Summary
- Overview
- Part 1: Victims and Witnesses Commissioner for Scotland
- Part 2: Trauma-informed practice
- Part 3: Special measures in civil cases
- Part 4: Criminal juries and verdicts
- Part 5: Sexual Offences Court
- Part 6: Sexual offences cases - further reform
- Additional issues considered at Stage 2
Sources

Scottish Parliament. (n.d.) Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/bills-and-laws/bills/victims-witnesses-and-justice-reform-scotland-bill

Scottish Parliament. (2023, June 14). Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe), Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. Retrieved from https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefings/Report/2023/6/14/b4b091c9-cd03-45a7-b3bd-25eeb2a1f418-1

Scottish Parliament. (2024, March 29). Criminal Justice Committee, Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill Stage 1 Report. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/criminal-justice-committee/cjs062024r02.pdf

Scottish Government. (2024, April 16). Response to the Stage 1 report on the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/criminal-justice-committee/correspondence/2024/vwjr-bill-scottish-government-response-to-stage-1-report-16-april-2024.pdf

Scottish Parliament. (2024, April 23). Scottish Parliament Official Report, Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/meeting-of-parliament-23-04-2024?meeting=15813&iob=134979

Scottish Government . (2024, October 31). Letter from the Scottish Government to the Criminal Justice Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/criminal-justice-committee/correspondence/2024/vwjr-bill-letter-from-cab-sec-jha-31-october-2024.pdf

Scottish Government. (2024, October 9). Improved support for crime victims. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/news/improved-support-for-crime-victims/

Scottish Parliament. (2024, December 4). Criminal Justice Committee, Scottish Parliament Official Report, Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/CJ-04-12-2024?meeting=16146&iob=137938

Scottish Parliament. (2024, December 11). Criminal Justice Committee, Scottish Parliament Official Report, Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/CJ-11-12-2024?meeting=16162&iob=138066

Scottish Parliament. (2025, February 26). Criminal Justice Committee, Scottish Parliament Official Report, Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/CJ-26-02-2025?meeting=16284&iob=139132

Scottish Government. (2025, March 4). Letter from the Scottish Government to the Criminal Justice Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/criminal-justice-committee/correspondence/2025/vwjr-bill-stage-2-amendments-letter-from-cab-sec-jha-4-march-2025.pdf

Scottish Parliament. (2025, April 3). Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill [as amended at Stage 2] Session 6 (2025) SP Bill 26A. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/s6-bills/victims-witnesses-and-justice-reform-scotland-bill/stage-2/spbill26as062025.pdf

Scottish Parliament. (2024, September 16). Finance and Public Administration Committee, Report on Scotland's Commissioner Landscape: A Strategic Approach. Retrieved from https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/Committees/Report/FPA/2024/9/16/9987d9fc-1699-4bfd-84ef-a742adf776c8#Introduction

Scottish Parliament. (2024, October 31). Scottish Parliament Official Report, Scotland's Commissioner Landscape. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/meeting-of-parliament-31-10-2024?meeting=16063&iob=137223

Scottish Parliament. (2025, March 12). Criminal Justice Committee, Scottish Parliament Official Report, Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/CJ-12-03-2025?meeting=16316

Scottish Government. (2021, March 22). Registers of child welfare reporters, curators ad litem and of solicitors who may be appointed when an individual has been prohibited from conducting their case themselves. Retrieved from https://consult.gov.scot/justice/registers-of-child-welfare-reporters/#:~:text=During%20the%20passage%20of%20the,can%20be%20appointed%20when%20an

Scottish Parliament. (2025, March 19). Criminal Justice Committee, Scottish Parliament Official Report, Victim, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/CJ-19-03-2025?meeting=16329

Scottish Parliament. (2025, March 26). Criminal Justice Committee, Scottish Parliament Official Report, Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/CJ-26-03-2025?meeting=16346

Scottish Parliament. (2025, April 2). Criminal Justice Committee, Scottish Parliament Official Report, Victims, Witness, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/lghp-02-04-2025?meeting=16360

University of Edinburgh. (2024, April). The Use of Sexual History Evidence and 'Sensitive Private Data' in Scottish Rape and Attempted Rape Trials. Retrieved from https://www.law.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2024-04/The%20Use%20of%20Sexual%20History%20Evidence%20and%20%27Sensitive%20Private%20Data%27%20in%20Scottish%20Rape%20and%20Attempted%20Rape%20Trials.pdf

Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service. (2025, March 13). Letter from the Chief Executive of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill - Scottish Government Stage 2 amendments. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-criminal-justice-committee/correspondence/2025/victims-witnesses-and-justice-reform-bill-stage-2-amendments

Scottish Parliament. (2023, April 25). Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Policy Memorandum Session 6 (2023) SP Bill 26-PM. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/s6-bills/victims-witnesses-and-justice-reform-scotland-bill/introduced/policy-memorandum-accessible.pdf

Scottish Government. (2024, April 16). Conviction rate data for cases of rape and attempted rape. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/conviction-rate-data-for-rape/

Scottish Government. (2018, August 17). Victim Notification Scheme: guidance for victims of crime. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/victim-notification-scheme-guidance-victims-crime/documents/

Scottish Government. (2023, May 12). Independent Review of the Victim Notification Scheme. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/independent-review-victim-notification-scheme/

Scottish Government. (2024, October 9). Victim Notification Scheme Formal Response to Independent Review. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/victim-notification-scheme-formal-response-independent-review/

Scottish Parliament. (2021, December 15). Consultation by Jamie Greene MSP, Proposed Victims, Criminal Justice and Fatal Accident Inquiries (Scotland) Bill. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/proposed-members-bills/jamie-greene-consultation-document-final.pdf

Scottish Parliament. (2021, December 15). Proposed Victims, Criminal Justice and Fatal Accident Inquiries (Scotland) Bill. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/bills-and-laws/proposals-for-bills/proposed-victims-scotland-bill

Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service. (2024, November 15). Victims' Right to Review. Retrieved from https://www.copfs.gov.uk/services/victim-services/victims-right-to-review/

Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service. (2024, June 3). Victim Information and Advice (VIA) service. Retrieved from https://www.copfs.gov.uk/services/victim-services/victim-information-and-advice-via-service/

Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service. (2024, April 26). Vulnerable victims and witnesses (special measures). Retrieved from https://www.copfs.gov.uk/services/support-at-court/vulnerable-victims-and-witnesses/

Scottish Government. (2019, September 1). Victim statement scheme: consultation. Retrieved from https://consult.gov.scot/justice/current-victim-statement-scheme/

Scottish Government. (2021, August 30). Make a victim statement. Retrieved from https://www.mygov.scot/victim-statement

Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service, et al. (2024, December 20). Standards of Service for Victims and Witnesses 2024-25. Retrieved from https://www.copfs.gov.uk/media/hwdirki1/standards-of-service-for-victims-and-witnesses-2024-25.pdf

Scottish Parliament. (n.d.) Criminal Justice Committee, Access to court transcripts for victims and survivors of rape and sexual offences. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-criminal-justice-committee/business-items/access-to-court-transcripts-for-victims-and-survivors-of-rape-and-sexual-offences

Scottish Government. (2023, October 6). Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, Access to Transcripts for Sexual Offences Victims - a pilot. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/criminal-justice-committee/correspondence/2024/access-to-transcripts-for-sexual-offences-victims-a-pilot-letter-from-cab-sec-jha--6-october-2023.pdf

Scottish Government. (2025, February 5). Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, Update of pilot - Access to Free Transcripts for Complainer in High Court Sexual Offence Cases. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/criminal-justice-committee/correspondence/2025/court-transcripts-pilot-update-letter-from-cab-sec-jha-5-february-2025.pdf

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