Job Description

This opportunity is only open to applicants who are currently 'Priority Movers'. Applications from individuals not currently on the Priority Mover list will be rejected and not considered.

This role is for a B3 Statistician to join on a temporary basis for 12 months the Strategic Justice Team within the Justice Analytical Unit that sits in Justice Analysis and Strategy Division (JAS).

The Strategic Justice Team works closely with the Criminal Justice Division – a policy team in the Justice Directorate – and undertakes work broadly related to criminal justice reform and the experiences of victims and witnesses, this includes work on pre-recorded evidence, integrated domestic abuse courts, the recently passed Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Act as well as work with juries in rape and attempted rape cases. The Strategic Justice Team is currently made up of one C1 Social Researcher and one B3 Social Researcher, the wider unit within which the team sits is approximately 10 analysts, more than half of these are statisticians. The successful candidate will be directly managed by the C1 social researcher but will also have a C1 statistician as a dotted line manager, the successful candidate will not be expected to manage anybody.

Whilst the successful candidate will work in JAS and will be line managed by a JAS colleague, the Criminal Justice Policy Division has provided funding for this B3 role. As a result of this, the work the B3 will be undertaking will be strongly linked to the Criminal Justice Division’s remit. There is one primary piece of work that is expected of this B3 statistician and a number of secondary projects that will be undertaken if time permits.

Responsibilities

Primary Task:

Pre-Recorded Evidence & Conviction Rate Project. The incoming statistician will undertake a project that seeks to determine how/if pre-recorded evidence impacts upon conviction rates. There are two key phases: 1) analysis, and publication, of existing historical data, held by Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) and, 2) designing a data collection tool with SCTS to enable collection of additional data over the next 18 months – 2 years which will then be analysed & published. The impetus for this work comes from similar projects undertaken in England and Wales, for example: Impact evaluation of pre-recorded cross examination - GOV.UK

Secondary Tasks (to be undertaken as time permits):

Analytical support for the delivery of the Statutory Review Requirement of the Victims, Witnesses & Justice Reform Act: This recently passed, wide ranging Act includes within it a statutory review requirement – an outline of what SG needs to do in order to review the legislation. To ensure the SG can meet this requirement important questions need to be answered regarding what relevant data currently exists (both internally and with justice partners) as well as what data (if any) we would encourage partners to collect over the coming years – this would be the role of the incoming statistician.

Analytical support for the Implementation of the Victims, Witnesses & Justice Reform Act: Policy colleagues are in the process of establishing how/when various aspects of the Act will be implemented and this includes, for example, the establishment of a new sexual offences court. There is no defined task as of yet, but an incoming statistician would likely be involved in this work in some capacity.

QA of analytical sections of the Jury Deliberation Project: The Strategic Justice Team & the Criminal Justice Division are in the process of commissioning a research project looking at how/if rape myths (false beliefs about rape, rapists and victims) impact upon jury deliberations in rape and attempted rape cases in the High Court. This project (which will be undertaken by external research organisations) will involve a survey and most likely some basic statistical analysis – the incoming statistician will provide QA for both the survey and the statistical sections of the final report.

This position will suit a statistician looking for experience of working closely with the other analytical professions, Policy and external stakeholders in a multi-disciplinary, dynamic and fast paced environment, as well as someone who is capable of designing and delivering a new statistical project.

Working pattern

This role is a temporary position with an expected commitment of 12 months.

How to Apply

Applications for this position will only be accepted from substantive B3 employees.

Please submit a statement outlining your suitability for the role, relevant skills and experience, and what you would bring to the team (maximum 500 words).

Vacancy closes at 11:59pm on 7th June.

Selection Process

All applications will be invited to an informal discussion with the hiring manager.

Informal discussions are to be confirmed.

Further Information

If you have specific questions about the role, please contact jocelyn.hickey@gov.scot.

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.