Members of the public want Scottish courts to make more use of alternatives to custodial sentences, according to a report.

A seminar organised by a Scottish Parliament committee suggested that people were more likely to support non-custodial measures once they heard the background to individual cases.

Now the chairwoman of Holyrood's justice 1 committee has urged the Scottish Executive to take the findings on board.

This raises important future policy questions and resourcing issues for Scotland's justice and penal system

Christine Grahame Committee chairwoman

Christine Grahame said: "Some of the disposals considered very appropriate, such as drug treatment and testing orders and community service orders, are not at present widely available or used.

"Quite clearly, this raises important future policy questions and resourcing issues for Scotland's justice and penal system.

"Our committee has been highly critical of the executive's Prisons Estates Review for having been carried out in a vacuum and we intend to explore these findings in our coming inquiry to ensure that important decisions on the future of Scotland's prisons are taken in a fully informed context."

The report was published following a seminar at Glasgow Caledonian University attended by Solicitor General Elish Angiolini and Strathclyde Police Chief Constable William Rae.

Views mellowed

Almost 90 members of the public took part in the day-long event.

They were asked what punishments they thought appropriate for a series of criminal cases.

Those taking part were in favour of harsher sentences at first - but their views mellowed when more information was provided on the background of the cases.

The justice committee criticised the prisons review

The report on the seminar said: "The content of discussions suggested a real concern to realise specific aims of sentencing, such as protecting the public, but the majority view was usually that such aims would be better achieved by using alternatives to imprisonment."

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said it was "strongly committed" to making greater use of alternatives to custody.

"It can offer those accused of crimes an opportunity to address offending behaviour or personal problems which contribute to offending," she said.

"Alternatives to custody can also be vital in helping to break the cycle of crime which many offenders find themselves trapped in and also allows many to remain with their families."

The justice 1 committee is to carry out a full inquiry into alternatives to custody later this year.