Scotland · Glossary
Criminal law glossary (Scotland)
Plain-English meanings of 45 words and phrases you're likely to meet when dealing with the police and the criminal courts in Scotland. Each links to the official source and to our guides.
Checked as at 25 September 2026. General information only, not legal advice.
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AccusedThe accused is the person charged with a crime in Scottish criminal proceedings; the English term defendant is not used.AdmonitionAn admonition is a formal warning from the court after a guilty plea or verdict, with no other penalty imposed.AggravationAn aggravation is a feature added to a charge that makes the offence more serious and is likely to lead to a heavier sentence.
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BailBail is release by a court while a criminal case continues, on conditions such as attending every hearing and not committing offences.Breach of the peaceBreach of the peace is a Scottish common law crime of disorderly conduct severe enough to alarm ordinary people and threaten serious disturbance.
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Children's hearingA children's hearing is a private legal meeting where three trained volunteer panel members decide what help or supervision a child needs.Children's ReporterThe Children's Reporter decides whether a child referred because of concerns, including offending, should go to a children's hearing.CitationA citation is an official document telling an accused person, witness or juror when and where they must go to court.Community payback order (CPO)A community payback order is a community sentence with requirements such as unpaid work or social work supervision.ComplainerA complainer is the person named in a criminal charge as the alleged victim of the crime.ComplaintA complaint is the court document setting out the charges against the accused in a summary (less serious) criminal case.CorroborationCorroboration is the Scots law rule that the key facts of a crime must be backed by evidence from at least two separate sources.Criminal justice social work reportA criminal justice social work report is prepared by a council social worker to help the court decide on the right sentence.Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS)COPFS is Scotland's independent public prosecution service, responsible for prosecuting crime and investigating sudden or suspicious deaths.
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Deferred sentenceA deferred sentence means the court postpones sentencing to a later date, often to see how the person behaves in the meantime.Diversion from prosecutionDiversion means the Procurator Fiscal refers you to a support programme, usually through social work, instead of prosecuting you.
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Fiscal fineA fiscal fine is a fixed penalty of £50 to £500 offered by the Procurator Fiscal as an alternative to prosecution in court.Fiscal warningA fiscal warning is a formal warning from the Procurator Fiscal, usually by letter, given instead of prosecuting you for an offence.Full committalFull committal is the second court appearance in a serious (solemn) case, when the accused is formally committed for trial.
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IndictmentAn indictment is the formal court document setting out the charges in a serious case that will be tried before a jury.Intermediate dietAn intermediate diet is a hearing in a summary case, before the trial date, to check whether the trial is ready to go ahead.Investigative liberationInvestigative liberation is release from police custody without charge, with conditions, while police continue investigating, for up to 28 days.
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JuryA Scottish criminal jury has 15 members; in trials starting on or after 1 January 2026, at least 10 must agree for a guilty verdict.Justice of the peace courtThe justice of the peace (JP) court deals with the least serious criminal cases in Scotland, using summary procedure without a jury.
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Non-harassment order (NHO)A non-harassment order is a court order banning a convicted person from specified conduct towards the victim, such as contact.Not proven (abolished)Not proven was a third Scottish verdict; it was abolished for trials starting on or after 1 January 2026, leaving guilty and not guilty.
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PetitionA petition is the first court document in a serious (solemn) case, setting out the draft charges at the accused's first appearance.Pleading dietA pleading diet is the court hearing in a summary case where the accused is asked to plead guilty or not guilty.Procurator FiscalThe Procurator Fiscal is the public prosecutor in Scotland who decides whether to prosecute a crime reported by the police.PVG schemeThe Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme is Scotland's membership scheme for people doing regulated roles with children or protected adults.
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Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC)The SCCRC is an independent public body that investigates possible miscarriages of justice in Scottish criminal convictions and sentences.Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB)The Scottish Legal Aid Board is the public body that runs legal aid in Scotland, including free advice at the police station.Sheriff Appeal CourtThe Sheriff Appeal Court hears criminal appeals from summary cases in the sheriff courts and justice of the peace courts.Sheriff courtThe sheriff court deals with most criminal cases in Scotland, either before a sheriff alone or, in serious cases, a sheriff and jury.Solemn procedureSolemn procedure is used for serious criminal cases in Scotland, which are tried before a judge and a jury of 15.Solicitor Contact Line (SCL)The Solicitor Contact Line is a 24-hour service run by the Scottish Legal Aid Board that gives free legal advice to people in police custody.Summary procedureSummary procedure is the way less serious criminal cases are dealt with in Scotland, before a judge sitting alone without a jury.
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