TPS supports issues raised by Chief Inspector of Prisons
27 January 2010
The governor of Scotland's only women's prison Corton Vale has admitted that most of those held there should not be in jail.
Teresa Medhurst's comment come as the Chief inspector of Prisons, Brig Hugh Monro, said the jail was "in crisis" and "drifting".
As many as 420 women have been held in the prison, more than twice as many as 10 years ago.
Martin Cawley, Turning Point Scotland's Chief Executive comments:
"We sympathise with the issues raised by the Chief Inspector of Prisons regarding the number of women in Corton Vale."
The governor said it is the fact that so many women are on short sentences that really affects operations. Last year, more than 2700 women were admitted to Corton Cale, which Brig Monro agrees has left it "in crisis".
Ms Medhurst agreed that many of her prisoners could be better dealt with in the community and Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the government was spending more money on programmes to prevent reoffending.
Martin continues:
"Turning Point Scotland supports the Government's plans for improved community based alternatives to custody through Community Payback Orders, as proposed in the Criminal Justice & Licensing Bill. Our 218 service in Glasgow is an excellent example of how targeted, comprehensive services can be provided to women in the community rather than in prison."
218 is a social and health care service which works with women who have been referred by agencies directly involved in the criminal justice field. The service, which operates from a building in Glasgow City Centre, offers a residential unit and a day programme. There is a six bed detoxification unit and an eight bed supported accommodation unit, which are projected to be used by 85 and 50 women respectively during the course of the years. The service's primary aim is to reduce the re-offending rates of the young women it supports.
In the report on its recent inquiry into female offenders in the criminal justice system, the Scottish Parliament's Equal Opportunities Committee identified 218 as "an excellent example of how targeted, comprehensive services can be provided to women in the community rather than in prison", and recommended that the model be applied across Scotland.
In response to this recommendation, the Scottish Government said:
"The Government intends to identify the most successful features of 218 and to support the Community Justice Authorities to apply them in their own locally led and designed projects."
INFO
Turning Point Scotland provides a male only service similar to 218. Please click here for more information about Turnaround.
