Sacro Annual Lecture 2008:
Imprisonment in Contemporary Scotland

Tuesday 7 October 2008 at 5:30pm
Followed by reception
Playfair Library, Old College, South Bridge,
University of Edinburgh

Speaker: The Rt. Hon. Henry McLeish
Chair: Magnus Linklater

In July this year, The Scottish Prisons Commission presented its eagerly awaited report.

Set up by the Scottish Government in October 2007, the Commission’s brief was to look at the purpose and impact of imprisonment in contemporary Scotland and analyse the impact for courts, prisons and community justice services of early release provisions contained in the Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Act 2007.

The Commission’s report, Scotland’s Choice, proposes an ambitious and innovative programme, designed to shape the future for Scotland’s criminal justice system.

This year’s Sacro Annual Lecture will be given by the Chair of the seven-strong Commission, The Rt. Hon. Henry McLeish.

Mr McLeish has unrivalled experience and political expertise as a former First Minister of Scotland, Minister for Enterprise and Life Long Learning, and Minister for Devolution. He was also Minister for Justice between 1997 and 1999 which included responsibility for prisons. In total, Mr McLeish has over 30 years experience of elected office at Westminster, the Scottish Parliament and Fife Council.

The lecture will be chaired by Magnus Linklater, Scottish Editor of The Times and freelance journalist. He is one of Scotland’s best known and most respected journalists and has worked with many of the country’s best known newspapers, including a six-year term as editor of The Scotsman.

The Lecture begins at 5:30pm and is followed by a drinks reception at 6:30.

This event is free and open to the public.

We anticipate a high demand for this event and would ask those wishing to attend to register their interest by email to: events@national.sacro.org.uk
or by telephone: 0131 624 7270.