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The Importance of Signposting

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There are a wealth of support services in every Local Authority area of Scotland but so often people report that there was no one to help them when they needed it.

It would be an impossible task for us to try to list every local support service across Scotland but, as a professional working in your own community, you are ideally placed to signpost people.

Taking the time to familiarise yourself with both criminal justice support services but also wider support services (such as those supporting mental health, addiction, benefits, parenting, etc.) will enable you to effectively signpost people to the most appropriate services, regardless of the needs they present with.

Many Local Authority areas have their own support service database. However, if you are unsure where to start looking, a useful starting point might be the national database ALISS.

A table with examples of appropriate language use
A table showing the notification periods for the various sentence types. Prison sentence of 30 months or more (including life), Indefinite. Order for lifelong restriction, Indefinite. Admission to a hospital subject to a restriction order, Indefinite. Prison sentence of more than 6 months but less than 30 months, 10 years. Prison sentence of 6 months or less, 7 years. Admission to a hospital without a restriction order, 7 years. Community payback order with an offender supervision requirement, The length of the offender supervision requirement. Any other sentence (e.g. a fine or admonition), 5 years.
Last updated:
September 3, 2024

Signposting

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