Helen Wright's work in Community Justice

Chair of Tayside Community Justice Authority 2007 – 2017
Chair of Scottish Community Justice Authority 2007 – 2014

Helen provided political leadership that has been instrumental in improving community justice in the City, the region (Dundee, Perth and Angus) and Scotland. Helen led and coordinated efforts throughout Scotland, worked closely with Scottish Government members and officials, other bodies and agencies including Sheriffs, Procurators Fiscal, The Prison Service, Social Work Services and others to improve and develop community justice services. Helen was also a part of the think tank that changed services in the court and the criminal justice system and one of the initiatives that came from this was community payback.

Her breadth of knowledge and previous experience as a convenor of social work, a magistrate, a prison visitor and other roles allowed Helen to bring a unique and valuable perspective and contribution to proceedings. Helen was also able to argue successfully for changes to the way Courts and the Prison Services deal with women. It was this sort of experience and belief that a new women’s unit, the Bella Centre, now built in her ward must be supported, sometimes in the face of public hostility – but this could never deflect Helen from her commitment to doing what she knew was right. Doing what is right is always more important to Helen than doing what is popular.

News report: Helen Wright becomes national voice for Community Justice Associations

Dundee City Council's social work and health convener, Helen Wright, has become the national voice of the organisations tasked with reducing the rate of criminal re-offending in Scotland  ... she becomes a member of the National Body on Offender Management, chaired by the Scottish Government's Justice Secretary. Helen had also served as a sitting magistrate in Dundee District Court for 18 years. See press report below