The Children (Care and Justice) Bill was passed in the Scottish Parliament on the 25th of April, enshrining in law age-appropriate justice and care for vulnerable young people across the country. This is part of wider work to embed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in Scottish law.
The Bill contains a series of measures to improve children’s experiences of the care and justice systems, whether children in conflict with the law, victims or witnesses. It provides a new model for children with detention measures, with accommodations more adapted to their needs and rights. It also provides new reforms to support victims, including a new single-point service for victims in the hearings system. To know more about the full extent of the measures, you can check the bill here.