The head of Victim Support Scotland yesterday backed moves to send fewer criminals to prison and divert more offenders from the courts.
David McKenna, chief executive of the national organisation spoke out in favour of non-custodial sentences which provide reparation to the community and the recent controversial moves to use fiscal fines rather than sending low level offenders to court.
Scotland’s head of prisons has told ministers the country's overcrowded prisons are in a state of "emergency" and has called for a cap on the number of people behind bars and Scandinavian-style alternatives to imprisonment for minor offenders.
> read more
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill challenged critics to 'stop carping from the sideline' over proposals to tackle re-offending and help turn the tide of record prison numbers in Scotland.
Mr MacAskill said the recent independent Scottish Prisons Commission's report set out a clear, if challenging, way forward.
The Scottish Consortium on Crime and Criminal Justice has just published its report Crime and Justice in Scotland 2006/2007, A Third Review of Progress.
The report shows that crime rates in Scotland over ten years have been relatively stable and for some types of crime the rates are falling. However, as the report also shows, Scotland still makes more use of imprisonment than all comparable countries in Western Europe. Scotland’s rate is the fourth highest in Western Europe, more than double the rates of Denmark and Finland and nearly twice the rates of Italy, Switzerland, Norway, and Ireland.
Scotland’s prison population has exceeded 8,000 for the first time on record. On reaching this landmark figure, Kenny MacAskill, Cabinet Secretary for Justice commented: “We need to lock up those who are a danger to our communities and who commit serious offences. Less serious offences need to be dealt with by tough community punishments”.
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has been accused of making jails less accessible for the families and friends of inmates, after allegedly rolling out a system of compulsory photographic ID for visits without consulting welfare groups.
Craiginches Prison in Aberdeen has been branded “dilapidated and unsuitable for use” by its governor, Audrey Mooney. She admits repeat offending is a major issue, with the “revolving door” of the prison bringing well-known faces back time and time again. On one occasion last week, a prisoner was released in the morning and locked up again by 9pm that same night.
The Scottish Prison Commission’s nine month examination into Scotland’s use of imprisonment came to fruition on 1 July with the publication of it’s 82-page report, “Scotland’s Choice”. Chair of the Commission, The Rt. Hon. Henry McLeish, described the report’s 23 recommendations as “bold reforms, rooted in common sense and evidence”.
Top UK award for Sacro. The Aberdeen Community Based Reparation Service has received an “Outstanding Scheme” award from the Howard League for Penal Reform.
Representatives from Sacro received the award at a ceremony in the House of Lords.
Promoting best practice in mediation. Scottish Community Mediation Centre and Scottish Community Mediation Network launch jointly in Edinburgh.
UK prisoners are discouraged from keeping in touch with their families because calls from prison cost seven times normal payphone rates. An official complaint has been made by the National Consumer Council (NCC).
