SCOTLAND'S criminal justice system needs major reform to clear the 50,000 court case backlog, MSPs say.
The huge number of delayed cases was made worse by the pandemic, Holryood's cross-party Criminal Justice Committee says.
But it says many of the challenges now faced are "symptoms of wider problems that have not been significantly addressed over many years".
These include high numbers of prisoners on remand, overcrowded and "outdated" jails with "revolving doors" and issues with drug deaths.
It wants more money for the sector in next month's Scottish Budget and is calling for "joined-up, long-term plans".
The call comes in a report published by the six-member panel today. Its convenor Audrey Nicoll, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, said: "We believe that there is a case for further spending to support the justice system to meet the many challenges it is facing.
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"However, we recognise that money is not unlimited, and that some of the seemingly intractable issues faced by our courts, prisons and other justice partners will not be fixed simply by loosening the purse strings.
"We believe joined up actions, achieving long term goals such as reducing reoffending, could prove transformational. This would improve outcomes for society as well as the budget for the sector."
Social Work Scotland told the committee that tackling the court backlog will put demand for criminal justice social work at more than 30% above pre-Covid levels until 2026, adding 5500 more community payback orders.
The committee's calls include cross-agency plans to reduce that backlog, lower the size of the prison population, particularly that of women and remand prisoners, and to improve the prison estate.
It also seeks action on drug misuse, the welfare of both staff and inmates and the management of organised crime groups in our jails.
More funding should be diverted to drug recovery cafes in prisons, MSPs say, as well as care for those leaving custody and "effective diversion from prosecution or diversion from incarceration schemes". All of these, the committee says, may "help ease pressures in the system, and in time reduce the overall budgetary challenges for the justice sector".
The Scottish Government has said this year's Budget is "expected to be challenging as a result of the continued pressure facing our public services and no additional Covid-19 funding from the UK Government". It says ministers "will ensure all investment is focused on helping people across the country".
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