Paul Ward, from BBC Scotland News, reports that the Scottish government’s decision to release up to 390 prisoners early to alleviate prison overcrowding has raised concerns for victims’ and public safety. The inmates, serving sentences of less than four years, will now be released after serving 40% of their time instead of the previous 50%, with exceptions for those in jail for domestic abuse or sexual offenses. Victim Support Scotland (VSS) expressed apprehension over the early release program, stating that it could diminish trust in the justice system and cause victims to feel neglected in safety discussions.
VSS chief executive Kate Wallace emphasized the prioritization of resources over victim and public safety, highlighting the potential impact on trust in the criminal justice system and victims’ willingness to report crimes in the future. With Scotland’s prisons currently holding 8,332 individuals, exceeding the target capacity of 8,007, measures to address overcrowding have become necessary. Last summer, 477 prisoners were released early to manage the issue, resulting in 61 individuals being returned to custody.
Linda Pollock, deputy chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), acknowledged the challenges posed by overcrowding on rehabilitation efforts but assured that staff were focusing on preparing soon-to-be-released prisoners for reintegration. Despite some incidents of reoffending post-release, collaboration with partners has allowed SPS to learn and improve their approach for greater effectiveness. The Scottish government has assured victims enrolled in the Victim Notification Scheme of automatic updates on any changes to a prisoner’s release date in their case, although VSS has called for a more proactive system to spare victims from unexpected encounters with offenders.
Victim Support Scotland has advocated for improved communication and support for victims, emphasizing the importance of informed planning and safety measures for individuals awaiting a perpetrator’s release. The Scottish government reiterated its commitment to working with victim support organizations to ensure accessible information for victims affected by changes in the release process for short-term prisoners, aligning with broader trends in the UK’s rising prison population impacting the justice system
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More