Long-term prisoner release process: consultation

Responding to the consultation

Deadline

4. We are inviting responses to this consultation by 23.59 on 19 August 2024.

How to respond

5. Please respond to this consultation using the Scottish Government’s consultation hub, Citizen Space. You can save and return your response while the consultation is open but please ensure that your response is submitted before the consultation closes at 23.59 on 19 August 2024. You will receive a copy of your response via email.

6. If you respond using Citizen Space, you will be directed to the “About You” page before submitting your response. Please indicate how you wish your response to be handled, in particular whether you are content for your response to be published.

7. If you are unable to respond using Citizen Space, then please return your response and completed respondent information form to:

Email: Communityjustice.consult@gov.scot

Or

Community Justice Consultations

Community Justice Division

Scottish Government

GWR

St. Andrew’s House

Edinburgh

EH1 3DG

8. On the respondent information form, please indicate how you wish your response to be handled, in particular whether you are content for your response to published.

Handling your response

9. Where respondents have given permission for their response to be made public, responses will be published on Citizen Space once we have checked that responses abide by our Terms of Use.

10. All respondents should be aware that the Scottish Government is subject to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and would therefore have to consider any request made to it under the Act for information relating to responses made to this consultation.

11. To find out how we handle your personal data, please see our privacy policy.

Next steps

12. All responses will be analysed and considered along with other available evidence to shape our policy on changing the release process for long-term prisoners. Our intention is to introduce legislation on this topic later in 2024.

13. We will publish an analysis report of the consultation responses.

Comments and complaints

14. If you have any comments or complaints about how this consultation exercise has been conducted then please send them to:

Communityjustice.consult@gov.scot

Why we consult

15. Consultation is an essential part of the policy making process. It gives us an opportunity to consider your opinion and expertise. Your responses along with other available evidence help shape our policy.

16. You can find all Scottish Government consultations on Citizen Space.