Commentary on Sections Section 15: National strategy in relation to community justice
26.Section 15 requires the Scottish Ministers to publish a national strategy for community justice within a year of the section coming into force. The purpose of the strategy is to provide the strategic vision for community justice in Scotland. The strategy may contain such material in relation to community justice as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate, such as details of the aims of community justice or the actions proposed to achieve these aims; action that Ministers propose to take or consider others should take; and action Ministers consider others should take to facilitate access to general services (as defined in section 2) for persons released from imprisonment or detention. In preparing the strategy the Scottish Ministers must consult each of the community justice partners; such third sector bodies involved in community justice and such other persons as they consider appropriate. The requirement to consult may be complied with by consultative activity which takes place before section 15 comes into force. As soon as reasonably practicable after the strategy has been published, Scottish Ministers must lay a copy before the Scottish Parliament.