Commentary on Sections Section 17: National performance framework in relation to community justice
28.Section 17 requires the Scottish Ministers to publish a national performance framework no later than one year after this section comes into force. The framework will include a set of “nationally determined” outcomes and indicators, and will be used by community justice partners to plan services, measure progress, identify where resources may be best applied, assess good practice and report on achievements, as well as identify issues and blockages. The framework therefore will set out the outcomes required, together with tools to support the improvement in community justice to achieve the vision presented in the national strategy. The framework may also contain such other information as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate, including indicators in relation to access to and use of relevant general services (as defined in section 2), which will be used to measure performance. The framework may also contain advice or guidance as appropriate. In preparing the framework, the Scottish Ministers must consult the other community justice partners; such third sector bodies involved in community justice as they consider appropriate; and anyone else that Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.