Communications and Engagement Committee

Remit and terms of reference

The Committee supports the Council in its communications and engagement activity, focusing in particular on its statutory objective to “promote greater awareness and understanding of sentencing policy and practice”.

Strategy

The Committee will assist the Council in delivering the Communications and Engagement Strategy, in particular by:

building the Council’s public profile
identifying and overseeing promotional and public education projects and events
identifying areas for collaboration with others, including contribution to public education projects, and participating in/attending conferences and events
overseeing the development of promotional and informational materials including further website development

Consideration will be given to the following key areas:

developing the website and other relevant material as accessible resources
raising awareness of sentencing policy and practice
developing a comprehensive strategy for communications around guidelines
engaging with the judiciary, practitioners, media, justice delivery organisations, stakeholders, and the wider public
preparing key messages on Council business
evaluating Council communications and engagement work
providing and disseminating helpful and accurate sentencing information, including in collaboration with relevant organisations

In preparing the Communications and Engagement Strategy, the Committee will take due account of the needs of different audiences and tailor relevant activity accordingly.

Minutes will be published on the website in accordance with the Council's Standing Orders.

Current Members

Sheriff Scott Pattison

Chair

Sheriff Pattison will hold office until July 2030.

Sheriff Pattison is a judicial member of the Council.

Lindsey Miller

Member

Lindsey will hold office until October 2026.

Lindsey is the prosecutor member of the Council.

Joanne McMillan

Member

Joanne will hold office until May 2028.

Joanne is the solicitor member of the Council.

Lynn Burns

Member

Lynn will hold office until July 2028.

Lynn is the victims expert member of the Council.

Sheriff Amel Elfallah

Advisor

Sheriff Elfallah was appointed as an advisor to the Communications Committee in May 2024.

Sheriff Elfallah was a judicial (summary sheriff) member of the Council until her appointment as a sheriff. Sheriff Elfallah is an advisor to the Council and sits on the Communications Committee as an advisor by invitation of the Council.

Sheriff Paul Brown

Advisor

Sheriff Brown was appointed as an advisor to the Communications Committee in September 2021.

Sheriff Brown was a judicial (summary sheriff) member of the Council until his appointment as sheriff. Sheriff Brown sits on the Communications Committee as an advisor by invitation of the Council.