Convicted offenders

If you are convicted of an offence the court may ask social workers to write a Criminal Justice Social Work Report.  These reports help the court to decide the most appropriate way to deal with the offender.

The judge, sheriff or justice of the peace may decide to sentence you to a community based order.

The judge, sheriff or justice of the peace can also send you to jail and ask that you be supervised on a licence when you are released.

If you feel that in some way your trial was unfair, or the sentence was unduly harsh, you can appeal to the High Court of Justiciary. The prosecutor can also appeal if he or she believes that the sentence was too lenient. An appeal can take several months, and you may be released from custody pending the appeal.

Court social workers are available in all the Edinburgh Courts.  They can provide advice and support to people appearing in court, and their families, before and after court proceedings.

Further information

Find out what services are available for people with drug and alcohol problems 

Get information on what services are available for young people involved in offending  

Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service provides information on how the prosecution system works