Sacro is a Scottish community justice organisation which works to create safer and more cohesive communities across Scotland. Sacro provides a wide range of services spanning all aspects of the community justice continuum. These range from conflict resolution to prevent disputes escalating, to supporting prisoners on release. All our services are designed to create safe and cohesive communities by reducing conflict and offending.
The organisation works with a broad range of people, including those harmed by crime and those responsible for that harm. As a Scotland-wide voluntary organisation, we are committed to providing services that contribute to positive transformational changes in the lives of our service users. We work independently and collaboratively within Scotland’s communities to provide support, prevent conflict and challenge offending behaviour wherever the need arises. Our services are based on research evidence, service user feedback, international standards of good practice and a commitment to development and innovation. Since its inception, Sacro has grown and developed new services for young people, bail, intensive supervision of high risk offenders and other priority categories. Sacro currently has almost 400 staff and volunteers, offering over 60 services in 22 locations across Scotland.
In 2012/2013 our services received more than 9,000 referrals. Within each of these referrals are individuals who require support, guidance or monitoring to reduce the risk of further conflict or offending. Sacro has played its part by contributing to reducing reoffending with the figures for recorded crime in Scotland at a 35 year low.
Sacro’s work has a tangible and far-reaching benefit for the people of Scotland, its communities and society. Although the organisation has changed and evolved over its 40 years, we know that supporting and guiding our service users through positive transformational life changes contributes greatly to a reduction in their conflict and offending.