HOWARD LEAGUE SCOTLAND - AUGUST 2021 NEWSLETTER
The following information is designed to put into context the work of Howard League Scotland with regard to penal reform in Scotland. If you wish to, please consider supporting the important work of Howard League Scotland either by joining us as a member or by making a donation here.
- The latest information regarding the Scottish prison population puts the number in prison at 7,473 which was 93% of the pre-pandemic level.
The individual prison occupancy rates as at 1/8/21 was as follows :
| Establishment |
Population |
Design Capacity |
Occupancy Rate |
| |
|
|
|
| Addiewell |
724 |
702 |
103% |
| Barlinnie |
1236 |
987 |
125% |
| Castle Huntly |
150 |
284 |
53% |
| Cornton Vale |
55 |
109 |
50% |
| Dumfries |
190 |
176 |
108% |
| Edinburgh |
862 |
867 |
99% |
| Glenochil |
722 |
668 |
108% |
| Grampian |
435 |
552 |
79% |
| Greenock |
201 |
224 |
90% |
| Inverness |
118 |
93 |
127% |
| Kilmarnock |
531 |
501 |
106% |
| Low Moss |
819 |
784 |
104% |
| Perth |
624 |
631 |
99% |
| Polmont |
339 |
758 |
45% |
| Shotts |
543 |
538 |
101% |
HMP Barlinnie remains constantly over-capacity and HMP Inverness at 127% of capacity has shown an increase from an occupancy rate of 115% in May.
There were only 41 people on Home Detention Curfew. 26% of the women’s population were being held on remand, 23% of the men’s population was on remand and 61% of 16 and 17 year olds were on remand.
- As at 13/08/21 there were 283 individuals self-isolating across establishments, with 32 confirmed COVID-19 cases. The weekly figures per establishment have not been updated since 25 June 2021, however, we do know that there was a serious outbreak in HMP Perth in the middle of July, when there were confirmed cases in 15% of the whole prison population.
- The new Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Keith Brown MSP, has advised that he could not give a date by which the current court backlog would be cleared. It was announced that £50m had been put behind clearing the backlog, although there is concern amongst defence lawyers that the Crown’s corresponding recruitment drive may result in a poorer quality service being afforded to those on legal aid as defence lawyers are drawn to the larger salaries on offer elsewhere.
- The Scottish Sentencing Council outlined its new sentencing guideline aimed at demystifying sentencing by setting out the process for all sentencing decisions in Scotland.
- Membership of the new Scottish Parliament Criminal Justice Committee is as follows :
Audrey Nicoll (Convenor) (SNP)
Russell Findlay (Vice-Convenor) (Conservative)
Rona Mackay (SNP)
Collette Stevenson (SNP)
Fulton MacGregor (SNP)
Pauline McNeill (Labour)
Katy Clarke (Labour)
Jamie Greene (Conservative)
And membership of the new Scottish Parliament Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee is follows :
Joe FitzPatrick (Convenor) (SNP)
Maggie Chapman (Vice-Convenor) (Greens)
Karen Adam (SNP)
Fulton MacGregor (SNP)
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Labour)
Pam Gosal (Conservative)
Alexander Stewart (Conservative)
- On 7 July, 2021, it was reported that the Scottish Government had agreed to roll out the pilot project offering Buvidal (monthly injection) as an alternative to methodone (daily medication) for those addicted to drugs in Scottish prisons.
- Howard League Scotland was quoted on numerous occasions in the Scottish Parliament extension of coronavirus act legislation, Coronavirus (Extension and Expiry) (Scotland) Bill Debate.
Pauline McNeill said “Howard League Scotland published a report last month titled “The Scandal of Remand in Scotland” and noted that 57 per cent of people who are held on remand do not go on to be given a prison sentence.
Jamie Greene said “Howard League Scotland warned us of the problem that the number of Scottish prisoners on remand has grown immensely over the course of the pandemic due to those delays. However, the way to tackle the problem is not simply to let people out of prison but to speed up the processing of those backlogs. Given that Scotland’s remand population is double that of England and Wales, how can this endless extension of keeping people on remand deal with the number of people on remand or the nature of remand.”
- With reference to the Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) Act 2020, and its enfranchisement for convicted persons sentenced to a period in custody of 12 months or less, HLS submitted a Freedom of Information Request to SPS asking them to advise how many prisoners in total in Scottish prisons (including those on remand) cast their votes in the 2021 Scottish Elections. The following reply was received : “I can advise that this information is not held by the Scottish Prison Service. The Scottish Prison Service has a responsibility to ensure that all those in our care who are entitled to vote, and wish to do so, have the opportunity to do so. We do not hold any records of how many prisoners actually voted.”
- Recent Media mentions referencing Howard League Scotland included :
Remember, you can further support the work of Howard League Scotland by joining us as a member or by making a donation. Use the following link here.
Thank you for your attention and support.
Howard League Scotland
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