Prisons

Regulations to allow a limited number of short-term prisoners nearing the end of their time in custody to be released early have been laid in Parliament to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme is limited to those sentenced to 18 months or less and who on 4 May have 90 days or less left t

The Scottish government and Scottish Prison Service intend to introduce mobile phones in Scotland’s prisons to maintain contact between people in custody and their families during the COVID-19 outbreak. The move follows the suspension of visits to help protect all those within prisons, includi

A criminologist has suggested that Scotland will face prison riots if inmates are not afforded any coronavirus protection. Twelve people died in riots in Italian jails last month after prisoners objected to restrictions on visits.

The Scottish members of the UK National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) have today written to Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf, highlighting efforts to uphold the rights of people in detention and deprived of their liberty during the COVID-19 outbreak. Among the recommendations in the letter, signed by Jud

The high rate of life imprisonment in Scotland is driven by both increased punitiveness and attempts to reduce the risk that serious crime poses to society, according to a new academic paper. More people are serving life sentences in Scotland as a proportion of the national population than in any ot

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has thanked Colin McConnell for his work as chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) following his decision to retire later this year. Mr McConnell has led the SPS since May 2012, following a career in prisons in Scotland, England and Wales and Northern Ire

Developing a contingency plan for HMP Barlinnie in the event that it fails must be of the highest priority for the Scottish Prison Service, Holyrood’s Public Audit Committee has said. Given the condition of Scotland’s prisons in general, the Scottish government and the SPS must

Plans to build a replacement for Barlinnie Prison on derelict land at Provanmill have taken a step forward with the submission of an application to Glasgow City Council.

Work as part of the redevelopment of Cornton Vale women's prison could begin next month. Documents in the planning process for the jail show that the Scottish Prison Service and contractor Morrison Construction aim to start in February.

The Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee has concluded that real-terms increases in the revenue and capital budgets for the Scottish Prison Service are needed for 2020/21. The committee is also calling for changes to the post-conviction landscape in Scotland.

The number of offenders passing through the criminal justice system has fallen to its lowest level in 50 years, according to official figures. Between July 2018 and June 2019 there were 1.58 million people processed by the system, compared with 1.86m in 1970, data from the Ministry of Justice show.

An independent review of the handling of deaths in prisons is being established by the Scottish government. The purpose of the review is to identify and make recommendations for areas for improvement to ensure appropriate and transparent arrangements are in place in the immediate aftermath of deaths

A prisoner support expert has raised concerns about the function of a law aimed at offering more support to prisoners due for release on a Friday after it emerged only 15 people had benefited from it in three years. Under the Prisoners (Control of Release) (Scotland) Act 2015, prisoners due for rele

A replacement for Glasgow's Barlinnie Prison is expected by 2025, the Scottish Parliament’s justice committee has heard. Justice secretary Humza Yousaf and Colin McConnell, chief executive at the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), told the committee yesterday that a deal to buy the land is “

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has welcomed news that two third sector partnerships will extend the range of support they deliver for people leaving prison. The ‘New Routes’ and ‘Shine’ partnerships, led by Wise Group and Sacro respectively, will make support available for mo