Growth and development.pdf

Falkirk4. Performance: Criminal JusticeKey ActivitiesNumber of social enquiry reports submitted to the courts 599 609 59.4 3during the yearNumber of community service orders made during the year 129 134 13.1 3The proportion of social enquiry reports reported to courtwithin target time2000-2001 QuartileProportion of social enquiry reports submitted to the courts 92.4 4by due dateThe time taken to complete community service orders1999-20002000-2001Average length of community service (hours) for orders 169 1completed during the yearAverage hours completed per week 4.1 22000-2001per 10,000QuartileA relatively low rate of social enquiry reports was submitted during 2000-2001 and a lowerproportion was submitted to courts by the due date than in most other authorities. A relativelylow rate of community service orders was made in the year. The average length of orders waslonger than in many other authorities, but the orders were completed relatively quickly.The Council is part of the Forth Valley criminal justice grouping, which includes Stirling andClackmannanshire. The grouping has formalised the joint working already taking place betweenthe authorities. Each council has its own IT system but management information is integratedacross all three. The Falkirk system is geared towards providing management information butallows for case notes to be entered directly by staff. The IT that supports community service ismore developed, tracking the progress of orders and generating reports to assist insupervision.The quality of statutory reports is monitored through routine sampling. The last year has seen a42% increase in the use of probation – believed related to an escalating drug problem – whilstthe use of community service has stayed constant.Procedures are in place to allow 16-18 year olds to be dealt with flexibly, either by the childrenand families teams or by the criminal justice team. Wherever possible young people are divertedaway from the criminal justice system: capacity to do this has been extended by the ConnectProject, which since autumn 2001, has provided services for young people who offend or havebecome involved in substance misuse, and for their carers and parents. It uses a multidisciplinaryapproach, bringing together secondees from nursing, community education, socialwork, and housing services. Assistance offered includes providing information, support andprogrammes delivered to families and groups, including programmes exclusively for youngwomen.123