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Seòmar agus comataidhean

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 18 March 2025
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Displaying 1088 contributions

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Criminal Justice Committee

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 29 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

Perhaps there needs to be a bit more conversation about the issue, then. I have heard comments about being pushed towards a verdict and juries almost always getting a verdict, but we are still talking about four out of 12 jurors saying that the person is innocent if you are going for a guilty verdict and a conviction.

Criminal Justice Committee

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 29 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

Or striving to reach it.

Criminal Justice Committee

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 29 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

This certainly is confusing. We have majority, supermajority, simple majority and unanimity systems. From what you have said, I think that you are in favour of unanimity—no?

Criminal Justice Committee

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 29 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

But going for 10 out of 12.

Criminal Justice Committee

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 29 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

So, it is all about striving for unanimity, but 10 out of 12 would be fine.

Criminal Justice Committee

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 29 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

Okay. I have just one wee quick question. The convener has asked about not proven as a compromise verdict, and you have answered that point, but my question is about changing to a two-thirds majority. The Crown Office has suggested introducing a system for retrials, should the two-thirds majority be missed—if, for instance, there is agreement among seven out of the 12 jurors. Do you think that that should be incorporated into the bill?

Criminal Justice Committee

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 29 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

You have just touched on what I was going to ask about. In the joint article in the Criminal Law Review, you noted that changing the majority to two thirds might create

“an unacceptable risk of wrongful conviction.”

Will you expand on that a wee bit?

Public Audit Committee

Section 23 Report: “Adult mental health”

Meeting date: 23 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

Yes, it does. Thank you.

Public Audit Committee

Section 23 Report: “Adult mental health”

Meeting date: 23 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

We have heard that there are different models around the country. You said that there are two budgets but that you are in charge of both. Is that not the case in other areas?

Public Audit Committee

Section 23 Report: “Adult mental health”

Meeting date: 23 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

What is the role of primary care mental health and wellbeing services in supporting people with mental health problems and/or directing people to the most appropriate source of support or service? I ask Jo Gibson to come in first on that.