Diversion from Prosecution in Scotland

Criminal Justice Social Work in Scotland performs a wide range of duties that have been consumed into probation elsewhere. One such duty is Diversion from Prosecution (DfP), an approach which offers support to those accused of crime to address the factors which led to the incident in question, avoiding the traditional process of prosecutions, trail and disposals. This chapter seeks to explore the potential benefits of this approach which can avoid the caustic elements of the criminal justice system, before considering the potential pitfalls of DfP, which, despite its good intentions, could lead to iatrogenic harm and a replication of existing inequalities within the wider justice system. Finally, this chapter highlights the need for future research which focusses not only on the outcomes of DfP but also the processes and experiences of its delivery.