Scottish government details action to deal with prison numbers

Angela Constance

The letter states that the recent increase in the number of people arriving on remand, along with a longer term trend of more people being convicted of serious crimes, which receive longer sentences, are some of the reasons the prison population has increased to levels beyond prediction, with the impact being felt across the justice system.

It reaffirms Scottish government’s commitment to encourage more widespread use of community-based interventions where appropriate and highlights recent government action including:

• extending the presumption against short sentences from 3 to 12 months in 2019;
• introducing electronic monitoring on bail (with around 400 people now supervised);
• passing the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Act 2023 to refocus how remand is used so that it is reserved for those who pose a risk to public and victim safety;
• providing a total of £134 million to support community justice services in 2023-24.

Ms Constance said: “It is clear that action needs to be taken to address the increasing prison population which has extended beyond predictions. The rise is influenced by multiple factors including reducing the backlog of cases in our justice system by over a third.

“The Scottish government is not changing its position on the use of prisons. They are necessary and the removal of someone’s liberty must always be available for our independent courts. Equally, we know that short periods of imprisonment, including for remand, can also have a hugely negative impact on individuals – disrupting families, their health, employment opportunities and housing which can then lead to reoffending.

“We are now working with justice partners to take forward a series of measures including making the best use of the current prison estate and sourcing additional prisoner places to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people living and working in prisons and those around them.”