Going to court

Information and support on court proceedings and what to expect when you attend a court.

Contents

Justice Social Work Reports

When someone is convicted of an offence, the Court may request a Justice Social Work Report (JSWR). This report is written by a Social Worker to help the Court decide the most appropriate sentence.

It considers:

  • Public protection
  • The impact on the victim and/or local community
  • The needs and circumstances of the person who offended

A JSWR will include:

  • Current circumstances and personal/social background
  • Impact of the offence on the victim(s)
  • Attitude and understanding of the offending behaviour
  • Risk of re‑offending assessment
  • Available community‑based sentencing options, and which may best reduce further offending

The Court may impose one of the following:

  • Custody
  • Financial Penalty
  • Community Payback Order 
  • Restriction of Liberty Order
  • Structured Deferred Sentence
  • Admonition

For more detail visit our pages on Community Sentences, Custodial Sentences and Reducing Reoffending.