The Annual Conference

SASO’s annual conference is Scotland’s main criminal justice conference, bringing together a wide range of people involved in the Scottish criminal justice system and reflecting the diversity of the Association's membership.

Each year the conference is on a different topical theme and attracts distinguished speakers from Scotland and beyond. Recent speakers have included: Lord Woolf, Cathy Jamieson, former Minister for Justice for Scotland, Prof. Sir Anthony Bottoms, the Solicitor General and Professor Andrew Coyle.

The conference is a friendly occasion with excellent opportunities for informal discussions.

2008 Conference
Friday 14th to Sunday 16th November
Peebles Hydro
"Towards a Scottish Penal Policy Consensus"

Conference Chair: David Strang, QPM, Chief Constable, Lothian and Borders Police

Keynote Addresses will be given by Kenny MacAskill, Cabinet Secretary for Justice; Rt Hon Henry McLeish, former First Minister and Chairman Scottish Prisons Commission; Dr Nancy Loucks, Independent Criminologist and Professor David Wilson, Professor of Criminology at the Centre for Criminal Justice Policy and Research, University of Central England.

Saturday’s interactive workshop will be led by Dan Gunn, Governor of Glenochil Prison, exploring the topic "How much can prison actually do?" and the first day's events will close with a panel led discussion entitled "Community Justice Authorities: a difference in the making?", chaired by Professor Sandy Cameron (Chair of the Parole Board for Scotland) with guest panellists Chris Hawkes, Chief Officer CJA, Helen Wright, Convener CJA and Dr Nick Bland, Scottish Government Criminal Justice Analyst proferring views on "Community Justice Authorities: A difference in the making?".

Sunday morning’s Panel Session will comprise a series of presentations on Community Options with contributions from Routes out of Prison (Laurie Russell, Chief Executive of the Wise Group); 281 Centre (Marnie Hodge, Development Manager, Turning Point); Community Links Centre (Keith Hastie, Senior Manager (Operations), SACRO Lothian & Borders and The Role of Criminal Justice Social Work (Sandy Riddell, Director of Community Services, Moray Council and Chair, ADSW Criminal Justice Standing Committee).

Conference Programme and speaker details
Registration Form (.pdf)

For further details contact Irene Cameron, SASO Administrator (icameron@a-m-s-online.com)

2007 Conference:

The 2007 Conference, entitled "Alcohol and Violence" was held at the Peebles Hydro Hotel from 16th to 18th November. The event was chaired by Baroness Vivien Stern, CBE with keynote addresses from the following speakers:

• Professor Martin Plant PhD, Professor of Addiction Studies, University of the West of England - "Alcohol: Offending in Context"
• Dr Tapio Lappi-Seppala, Director, National Research Institute of Legal Policy, Finland - "The Experience in Finland of Tackling the Links between Alcohol and Violence"
• Nel Whiting, Learning and Development Worker, Scottish Women's Aid - "Deconstructing Domestic Abuse"
• Dr Richard Simpson, MSP, GP and Psychiatrist, former Deputy Minister for Justice - "Practical Politics Turning Rhetoric into Reality"
• Gordon Nicholson, CBE, QC, Chairman Nicholson Committee on the Review of Liquor Licensing Law in Scotland - "What is the Role of Licensing Law?"

In addition there was an interactive workshop, "Violence and Alcohol: Alternative Strategies" led by Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan QPM, Violence Reduction Unit, Strathclyde Police and a panel led discussion "10 ways to Improve the Situation" chaired by Sheriff Principal Brian Lockhart. Panel members included representatives from ADAT, the Drinks Industry, Medical Profession and Police.

2006 Conference: "Justice for Youth" Peebles Hydro

The theme of SASO's Annual Conference in 2006 was "Justice for Youth". The aim was to explore the major issues which arise not only in the Children's Hearings but also among young adult offenders, that group - 16, 17 and 18 year olds - who are the subject of so much political and media attention. What are the best and most effective approaches? How are the Children's Hearings coping with the major changes which have taken place since they were established? What is the role of special courts and of new forms of sentencing? What community facilities are needed to make hearing and court decisions effective?

Speakers included Kathleen Marshall, Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People, Rob Allen, Member of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales, Professor Malcolm Hill, Andrew Forrester, Sheriff Robert Dickson, Sheriff David Bicket, Alan Finlayson.

"The Present State of Youth Justice in Scotland". Speech delivered to the Conference by Kathleen Marshall.

Programme, speaker notes and booking form