The Glasgow Court Bail Service provides a range of information including information on accommodation and supervision to enable the courts to provide the widest choice of sentencing options in order that the appropriate use of bail is maximised.
The bail information scheme was piloted in Glasgow Sheriff Court in 1991 and followed by further research which supported the extension of the bail service to cover bail supervision and an extension of the scheme to Glasgow District Court (Stipendary Magistrates) in 1998.
The bail service is provided through designated bail officers attached to the court social work unit.
The bail service provides:
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Bail Information
Information is gathered and verified which may assist the court in reaching a decision to grant bail. The type of information the bail officer can verify includes:
- Address
- Employment
- Health issues
- Response to current social work supervision
- Community and family support
Where immediate assistance can be provided to address a positive obstacle to bail – such as homelessness, or an alternative address being required – staff provide this service. The bail officer provides a brief report of verified information to the procurator fiscal, with copies for the sheriff/magistrate and the defence agent.
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Bail Supervision
This element of the service provides an alternative to custodial remand in appropriate cases by providing monitoring and supervision in the community. This involves supervision interviews three times per week. Compliance expectations are high, with immediate breach without warning for any incident of non-compliance.
In many cases, bail supervision allows the opportunity to provide support and information in a range of areas that may have contributed to the bailee’s offending behaviour, for example:
- Addiction
- Housing
- Debt
- Employment/training
- Educational opportunities
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Bail Accommodation
In suitably assessed cases, bail accommodation can be offered to the court as an alternative to remand. This includes accommodation in a 24 hour staffed registered hostel, as well as bed-sit accommodation (priority target: women and young offenders). Visiting support and supervision can also be offered to individuals in their own home, with random visits as part of a curfew arrangement.
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Bail Review and Appeal
As part of this extension of service, packages of support and supervision can be offered in respect of persons who have been remanded in custody, to enable the court to review whether bail could be substituted.
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General
Although bail information is available in both summary and solemn courts, bail supervision is currently restricted to summary cases only. Extension to solemn cases remains under review.
Contact details
For contact information see useful links
For information on how to comment or complain on the service you receive see Your Views
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