Under consideration PE2182: Review the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act and introduce a minimum sentence for severe offences

Background information

Current penalties are too lenient and fail to reflect the severity of the crimes or the lasting trauma victims endure. Increased sentencing is necessary to properly address these heinous acts and their devastating impact on the victims. Domestic abuse victims often feel unheard, unsupported, and powerless to report their abusers due to the leniency in the current sentencing system.

This is not justice. Victims of domestic abuse consistently report feeling let down by the justice system. Many victims do not feel confident in the justice system, and that perpetrators are not held accountable for the trauma they cause. The Scottish Government has acknowledged this issue in its reports, highlighting that victims often do not feel protected or supported by the system. There is a growing sense of frustration and distrust in the justice system and a lack of regard for women's safety.