Prisoner early release plan approved

The Scottish Parliament has approved the early release of some short-term prisoners to address the impacts of a recent rapid rise in the prison population.

Under current modelling, based on the criteria set out in the regulations approved by Parliament, around 514 eligible prisoners will be released in four tranches from the 26 June.

Public safety will remain a priority, and underpin all decisions, with safeguards built in. Only prisoners serving less than four years and due to be released within 180 days are eligible for release.

Certain categories of prisoners are automatically excluded and not eligible for early release under the plans; that is any prisoner who: is serving a life sentence, is on the Sex Offenders Register, is subject to a non-harassment order, or who has an unspent conviction for domestic abuse. As an additional protection, prison governors will have the power to veto the release of any otherwise eligible prisoner, if they deem them an immediate risk to a specific individual or group.

In addition, the regulations ensure that victims will be able to receive information about the release of a prisoner in their case through, or as well as, a named victim support organisation, where the victim has requested it. 

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said:

“Immediate and urgent action is needed to deal with the significant recent rise in the prison population. The same challenges in prisons are faced across the UK and the UK Government has taken similar action in England and Wales.

“Through this emergency early release plan, backed by Parliament, we are responding to this critical situation and ensuring the safety and welfare of staff and prisoners.

“Protecting the public remains my absolute priority, which is why there are significant and robust safeguards in place and only those due to be released in the next short while are eligible. Releases will also be completed in tranches so the necessary support can be provided to safely resettle released prisoners in their communities.

“We are working with victims organisations to ensure the right information and support is available where needed. In addition, the existing statutory schemes of information for victims will continue to ensure that victims who wish to receive information about an offender’s release, including emergency early release, can do so.

“This is part of a significant package of measures we are taking in both the short and longer term to deal with the continuing rise in Scotland’s prison population, which remains one of the highest in Western Europe.”

Background

The Early Release of Prisoners and Prescribed Victim Supporters (Scotland) Regulations 2024.

Victim organisations named in the regulations that will be provided information on prisoner release if requested: Victim Support Scotland, Rape Crisis Scotland, ASSIST and Children 1st.

The regulations will come into force on 13 June and only prisoners due to be released within 180 days from this date are eligible for release.

The current Prison Population is 8,294 as of 12 June 2024.

Justice Secretary’s statement to the Scottish Parliament on 16 May 2024

Prison population: position paper

Prison Population: information note

Prison Governor veto guidance

Prisoners will be released in four tranches on 26 or 27 June, 3 or 4 July, 10 or 11 July, 17 or 18 July with all releases to be completed by 25 July.

Cead gus prìosanaich a shaoradh tràth

Thug BPAan cead do na riaghailtean, anns a bheil cuideachd ceumannan dìona.

Thug Pàrlamaid na h-Alba cead gus cuid a phrìosanaich a tha fo bhinn ghoirid a shaoradh nas tràithe na bha an dùil gus dèiligeadh ri buaidh a’ ghrad-àrdachaidh a thàinig air sluagh nam prìosan o chionn ghoirid.

Fo na modailean a thathar a’ cleachdadh an-dràsta, a rèir nan slat-tomhais a tha air am mìneachadh sna riaghailtean don tug Pàrlamaid cead, bidh mu 514 prìosanach a tha ceadaichte fon sgeama air an saoradh thairis air ceithir cuibhreannan bho 16 Ògmhìos.

Bidh sàbhailteachd a’ phobaill na prìomhachas fhathast, is bidh i aig bonn gach co-dhùnadh, le ceumannan dìona mar phàirt den sgeama. ’S e dìreach prìosanaich fo bhinn nas lugha na ceithir bliadhna is a bha gu bhith air an saoradh an ceann 180 latha a bhios air an saoradh.

Tha seòrsaichean sònraichte de phrìosanach nach eil idir a’ tighinn fon sgeama is nach eil ceadaichte a bhith air an saoradh tràth fo na planaichean. ’S iad sin: prìosanach sam bith a tha fo bhinn fhad-beatha, a tha air Clàr nan Drabastairean, a tha fo òrdugh neo-shàrachaidh, no a tha fo dhìteadh mhaireannach air sgàth dochann san dachaigh. Mar cheum dhìona a bharrachd, bidh a’ chumahachd aig riaghladairean prìosain stad a chur air saoradh prìosanaich a tha ceadaichte son an sgeama ma tha iad den bheachd gu bheil iad nan ghrad chunnart do dhaoine no bhuidhinn shònraichte.

Cuideachd, nì na riaghailtean cinnteach gun urrainn do luchd-fulaing fiosrachadh iarraidh ma thèid prìosanach ceangailte ris a’ chùis aca a shaoradh. Thèid seo a dhèanamh tro, no còmhla ri fiosrachadh bho, bhuidhinn a tha aithnichte gus taic a thoirt do luchd-fulaing, no nuair a dh’iarras an luchd-fulaing seo.

Thuirt Rùnaire a’ Cheartais, Angela Constance:

“Tha feum air gnìomh èiginneach is anns a’ bhad gus dèiligeadh ris an àrdachadh mhòr a tha air tighinn o chionn ghoirid air sluagh nam prìosan. Tha na h-aon dhùbhlanan mu choinneamh phrìosanan air feadh na Rìoghachd Aonaichte is tha Riaghaltas na Rìoghachd Aonaichte air an aon sheòrsa de ghnìomh a chur an sàs ann an Sasainn agus a’ Chuimrigh.

“Tron phlana tràth shaoraidh èiginneach seo, ris a bheil a’ Phàrlamaid a’ cur taic, tha sinn a’ freagairt ris an t-suidheachadh èiginneach seo is ag obrachadh gus a bhith cinnteach de shàbhailteachd is math an luchd-obrach agus nam prìosanach.

“’S e a bhith a’ dìon a’ phobaill fhathast an sàr phrìomhachas agam. ’S e sin an t-adhbhar gu bheil ceumannan dìona brìgheil agus làidir ann an àite is gur e dìreach iadsan a bhathar an dùil saoradh an ceann ùine ghoirid a tha ceadaichte fon sgeama. Thèid an saoradh cuideachd thairis air ceithir cuibhreannan eadar-dhealaichte gus an urrainn an taic cheart a thoirt seachad airson phrìosanaich a chaidh a shaoradh a bhith air an ath-shuidheachadh gu sàbhailte anns na coimhearsnachdan aca.

“Tha sinn ag obair le buidhnean luchd-fulaing gus dèanamh cinnteach gum faighear am fiosrachadh is taic cheart far a bheil feum air. Cuideachd, leanaidh na sgeamaichean reachdail a tha mu thràth ann gus fiosrachadh a thoirt do luchd-fulaing. Airson luchd-fulaing a tha ag iarraidh fiosrachadh mu shaoradh phrìosanaich, a’ gabhail a-steach iadsan a thèid a shaoradh tràth fon sgeama seo, nì seo cinnteach gum faigh iad an leithid.

“Tha seo na phàirt de phacaid bhrìgheil de cheumannan a tha sinn a’ gabhail gach cuid sa gheàrr-ùine is san fhad-ùine gus dèiligeadh leis an àrdachadh leantainneach ann an sluagh prìosain na h-Alba, a tha fhathast mar aon den fheadhainn as àirde san Roinn Eòrpa an Iar.”

Cul-fhiosrachadh

Riaghailtean airson Phrìosanaich a Shaoradh Tràth agus Buidhnean Taic Òrdaichte airson Luchd-fulaing (Alba) 2024

’S iad seo na buidhnean a tha air an ainmeachadh sna riaghailtean agus don tèid fiosrachadh mu shaoradh phrìosanaich a thoirt ma thèid iarraidh: Victim Support Scotland, Rape Crisis Scotland, ASSIST agus Children 1st.

Thèid na riaghailtean a chur an sàs air an 13 Ògmhìos is ’s e prìosanaich a dhèigheadh a shaoradh an ceann 180 latha bhon cheann-latha ud a-mhàin a bhios ceadaichte a bhith air an saoradh.

Air 12 Ògmhìos 2024 ’b e Sluagh nam Prìosan 8,294.

Aithris Rùnaire a’ Cheartais do Phàrlamaid na h-Alba air 16 Cèitean 2024

Sluagh nam Prìosan: pàipear suidheachaidh

Sluagh nam Prìosan: nòt fiosrachaidh

Comhairle Veto do Riaghladairean Prìosain

Thèid prìosanaich a shaoradh thairis air ceithir cuibhreannan air an 26 no 27 Ògmhìos, 3 no 4 Iuchar, 10 no 11 Iuchar, 17 no 18 Iuchar is thèid iad seo uile a chrìochnachadh ro 25 Iuchar.