The period of time between a first Court appearance on a new charge, and the final appearance when a person is found to be not guilty, or when a final sentence is imposed, can be lengthy.
When the Court has no reason to be concerned about a person's behaviour, he/she is simply "Ordained to Appear" at subsequent court Hearings.
In other cases, Courts have two mechanisms to ensure attendance at future Court Hearings and also to be assured that the accused person will be of good behaviour during the course of the Court proceedings, and will not interfere with, or cause alarm or distress to witnesses.
People can be remanded in custody or placed on a Bail Order.
Various conditions can be attached to Bail Orders and a Breach of the conditions is a criminal offence.
When a Sheriff is deciding whether to remand a person on custody or to grant Bail, he may make reference to a worker from the Criminal Justice Social Work Service with a view to imposing a Bail Supervision Order.
In addition to abiding by the conditions of his/her Bail Order, a person on a Bail Supervision Order will be expected to see a worker from Criminal Justice Social Work Service up to three times a week until the Court case is concluded. The aim of this contact is to reduce a person's risk of re-offending.
During contact with the Criminal Justice Worker, assistance or advice is given in relation to problems, such as alcohol or drug addiction, which make a person more liable to re-offend.
Justice Service
Patons, Greenside Street, Alloa, FK10 1EB
Tel: 01259 452200 / 450000
Email: criminaljustice@clacks.gov.uk