EQUALITIES

The Board is committed to the promotion of equality and to tackling discrimination on any ground, including age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.  This page outlines our equality aims and priorities. 

We have produced an overarching Single Equality Scheme setting out the approach we will adopt to comply with all equalities legislation, using good practice as an employer and as a service provider.  The scheme covers the Board’s approaches to meet the public sector equality duties covering race, gender and disability between 2008 and 2011.

• Single Equality Scheme 2008 – 2011 (pdf format) (word format)
• Single Equality Scheme: annual report 2009 (pdf format) (word format)
  

20 July 2009 - Disability involvement project launched

A major project is underway to examine the experiences of disabled people within the justice sector. This work is being carried out by Capability Scotland on behalf of the Justice Disability Steering Group (JDSG). The JDSG is made up of representatives from the Scottish Legal Aid Board, Law Society of Scotland, Scottish Government, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the Scottish Court Service, and the Scottish Prison Service.

The primary aim of the JDSG is to develop ways in which disabled people can get involved in the improvement of access to services across the justice system in Scotland and to draw on disabled people's skills and experience to improve the Scottish justice sector for all.

The JDSG recognises that, whilst much of the system is delivered fairly and in an accessible way, some physical, attitudinal and procedural barriers do exist and more needs to be done to promote equal access and opportunities.

The JDSG is committed to improving effectiveness and efficiency across the justice sector. This collaboration will offer a wider perspective and enable the JDSG members to identify what changes are required in each specific organisation.

The JDSG has launched a 6-month involvement programme with disabled people aimed at eliminating discrimination and promoting equal opportunities and appointed Capability Scotland to manage this programme on their behalf.

The involvement events, to be held in late summer and autumn at locations across Scotland, aim to identify and examine the specific issues which disabled people face when accessing the justice system. They will include focus groups, at which people with a wide range of impairments will have the opportunity to present and discuss their experiences.

The events will culminate in a national conference later this year. At this event, those involved will look at how to remove the barriers to justice and recommend an approach to long-term involvement of disabled people in the justice sector.

During the involvement events the intention is also to build a network of advisors by identifying individual disabled people who have an interest in contributing to a longer-term involvement strategy.

Capability Scotland is currently conducting a poll with the 500 members of its One in Four Poll group about their experiences of accessing the justice system. The findings of this poll will be used to inform the ongoing work of the JDSG. To aid this, the poll has been made available to individuals who are not currently part of the One in Four Poll Group, through the Capability website. To visit the Capability website and complete the survey (click here to link to the survey).

Annual Equality Scheme Report

The equality duties require us to report on our equality progress annually.  The Single Equality Scheme reports our progress against all strands up to November 2008.  Previous progress reports are published below.  The first annual report for our Single Equality Scheme will be published in December 2009.

• Disability Equality Scheme Report 2006 – 2007 (pdf format) (word format)
• Gender Equality Scheme Report 2007- 2008 (pdf format) (word format)
  

Consulting with our stakeholders

We are committed to involving and consulting with our stakeholders in our equality work.  We have used interviews and focus groups to inform our equality schemes.  Our recent research and consultations include:

• Disability Equality Research 2006. (pdf format)
• Gender Equality Research 2007. (pdf format)

• Race Equality Research 2008. (pdf format)

 Equality Impact Assessment

We ensure that our policies and procedures meet the requirements of the public sector equality duties through an impact assessment process.  Our Equality Impact Assessment Toolkit has been developed for use by our managers and is based on best practice within the public sector.  You can view our toolkit and guidance below.

• Equality Impact Assessment Guidance  (pdf format) (word format)
• Equality Impact Assessment Toolkit  (pdf format) (word format)

Have your say

We are keen to hear your views about our approach to equality; the priorities we have identified and how you think our policies or functions impact on equality.  We would appreciate your feedback using our online questionnaire  Please use this form if you wish to be further involved in the Board’s equality work.