Statement on Scottish Government plans for long-term prisoner release

Victim Support Scotland has released a statement on the Scottish Government’s plans for long-term prisoner release.

Full statement:

“We welcome the decision by the Scottish Government to pause and more closely consider long-term release plans, given the complexity of proposals and the requirement for adequately resourced and risk-assessed implementation. Consequently, we note that the proposals announced today apply only to prisoners serving short-term sentences of less than four years.

“Excluding domestic abuse and sexual offences provides an important safeguard pertinent to this profile of offending and the risk it can pose to individuals. However, we do seek clarity on whether a Governor’s veto, which played an important safeguarding role in Emergency Early Release, will be applied.

“Additionally, plans for the regulation of Home Detention Curfew and investment and expansion of GPS would be extremely beneficial as currently the technology puts the onus on victims to police and report breaches.

“Going forward, robust communications plans implemented via the long-awaited and much-needed improved Victim Notification Scheme will be crucial in keeping victims safe and preventing more victims from being created. Given that only 2% of the victims were informed about their prisoner being released as part of Emergency Early Release, we are calling for urgent and swift action to ensure victims are informed.

“The impetus for these measures has often focused on prisoner wellbeing. Whilst we support these measures, we were encouraged by a renewed attention on victim safety, victim rights, and taking victims’ views into consideration. There is ample expertise across the sector and victim support organisations stand ready to ensure that victims are prioritised within these plans.”