What we do

Children are referred to the Reporter from a number of sources and for a variety of reasons. SCRA has approximately 220 Children's Reporters who are located throughout Scotland in each local authority area. The Reporter investigates each referral to decide if compulsory measures of supervision are needed to protect the child and/or address their behaviour. If these measures are necessary, and if evidence is available to support one or more of the grounds for referral, the child is then referred to a Children's Hearing.

Each Hearing is made up of three Panel Members, who are all trained volunteers from the local community. Children's Reporters work in close partnership with other professionals in service areas such as social work, education, the police, the health service and the courts system.

The Children's Hearings System is distinct to Scotland, in that the welfare of the child remains at the centre of all decision making. One of its fundamental principles is that children who offend, and children who are in need of care and protection are dealt with in the same system.

SCRA’s research into the backgrounds and circumstances of persistent young offenders ‘On the Right Track’, identified that 72% had been initially referred on non-offence (care and protection) related matters; highlighting one of the System’s most important aspects that children who offend are often the same children who require care and protection.