Prison system

Letters

The aim should not be to punish repeat offenders by making them destitute

Restricting benefits would not reduce rates of reoffending

Justice Secretary Angela Constance confirmed the plans on Thursday

Justice Secretary Angela Constance confirmed the plans on Thursday

Angela Constance

Short-term prisoners in Scotland to be released earlier, Scottish Government confirms

Can we move away from prison as a further punishment, to loss of liberty as the punishment?

Can we move away from prison as a further punishment, to loss of liberty as the punishment?

We should all take an interest in how prisons are being run

Murderer Jimmy Boyle at work in the Barlinnie special unit in 1974

Murderer Jimmy Boyle at work in the Barlinnie special unit in 1974

Barlinnie Prison

7

Ruth Wishart: We must remember the lessons from Barlinnie’s radical Special Unit

A trade union official expressed concern about BBC Scotland's sharing of an article about prisoner releases.

A trade union official expressed concern about BBC Scotland's sharing of an article about prisoner releases.

13

BBC Scotland called out over 'unclear' headline on prisoner release

The UK incarcerates a higher proportion of its population that most other European countries

The UK incarcerates a higher proportion of its population that most other European countries

A complete rethink of the criminal justice system is required

B’Tselem mapped the scale and nature of abuse dealt to Palestinian prisoners at the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) run incarceration sites

B’Tselem mapped the scale and nature of abuse dealt to Palestinian prisoners at the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) run incarceration sites

3

Palestinian prisoners face systemic abuse as Israel’s jails labelled 'torture camps'

Around 550 eligible prisoners could be released in four waves from the end of June

Around 550 eligible prisoners could be released in four waves from the end of June

3

More than 500 prisoners to be released early in Scotland due to 'overcrowding'

Kate Forbes writes about the complexities of the justice system

Kate Forbes writes about the complexities of the justice system

3

Kate Forbes: It’s time to ask hard questions about how Scotland treats its prisoners

The UK's prison population is the highest in western Europe

The UK's prison population is the highest in western Europe

1

Focus of prisons must be reform and rehabilitation, not punishment

A prisoner in a cell at Cornton Vale prison, Scotland's only female prison

A prisoner in a cell at Cornton Vale prison, Scotland's only female prison

6

Caitlin Logan: Women in prison deserve better than arguments over culture wars

In the UK, 75 per cent of offenders will re-offend within nine years of leaving the prison system

In the UK, 75 per cent of offenders will re-offend within nine years of leaving the prison system

Conservative Party

1

Kelly Given: The Dutch are closing prisons. We have a spiralling prison population

Solicitor Aamer Anwar (second right) representing the families of both victims, speaking to the media with Deborah Coles, executive director of bereavement charity Inquest (left) and Linda Allan (second left) and Stuart Allan (right), the parents of

Solicitor Aamer Anwar (second right) representing the families of both victims, speaking to the media with Deborah Coles, executive director of bereavement charity Inquest (left) and Linda Allan (second left) and Stuart Allan (right), the parents of

Staff took 16-year-old off suicide watch hours before death, inquiry told

Figures show more than half of prisons in Scotland are operating above capacity

Figures show more than half of prisons in Scotland are operating above capacity

6

Alex Salmond's government feared prisoners could sue for overcrowding, papers show

Prisons across Scotland are using double cell occupancy to tackle an increasing population

Prisons across Scotland are using double cell occupancy to tackle an increasing population

Scottish prison system at 'considerable risk' due to overpopulation and understaffing

An 'individualised' approach is to be taken to managing transgender prisoners in custody

An 'individualised' approach is to be taken to managing transgender prisoners in custody

Angela Constance

10

‘Individualised’ approach planned for transgender people in custody policy

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross during First Minster's Questions at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross during First Minster's Questions at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood

REAL SCOTTISH POLITICS

Wee Ginger Dug: Tory hysteria on prison sentencing exposes their hypocrisy

The nine-minute interview was humiliating for England's prisons minister

The nine-minute interview was humiliating for England's prisons minister

Conservative Party

1

Damian Hinds spouted non-stop drivel during Channel 4 News interview

A guard does the rounds at HMP Barlinnie

A guard does the rounds at HMP Barlinnie

Barlinnie Prison

Scottish prison population exceeds 8000 for first time in decade

Daniel Abed Khalife, 21, has been missing since 8am on Wednesday

Daniel Abed Khalife, 21, has been missing since 8am on Wednesday

UK-wide manhunt for escaped terror suspect enters second day

Stanley Feerick has been jailed.

Stanley Feerick has been jailed.

3

Gangster grandad jailed over £1m drug Motherwell drug factory

There are concerns for the safety of prisoners at HMP Addiewell after a report highlighted abuse of inmates by staff

There are concerns for the safety of prisoners at HMP Addiewell after a report highlighted abuse of inmates by staff

Safety fears for inmates of Scottish prison after report reveals abuse from staff

A man has died in custody at HMP Low Moss

A man has died in custody at HMP Low Moss

Male prisoner, 33, dies in custody at HMP Low Moss

Drones are being used to smuggle drugs into Scottish prisons

Drones are being used to smuggle drugs into Scottish prisons

1

Drones being used to smuggle drugs into Scottish prisons

The former justice secretary claimed that despite his previous efforts, the Scottish Government has failed to make a 'substantial dent' in the female prison population.

The former justice secretary claimed that despite his previous efforts, the Scottish Government has failed to make a 'substantial dent' in the female prison population.

10

Humza Yousaf vows to halve Scottish female prison population if he becomes FM

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC has instructed Police Scotland to investigate possible corporate responsibility by the Scottish Prison Service

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC has instructed Police Scotland to investigate possible corporate responsibility by the Scottish Prison Service

Police Scotland

1

Scottish Prison Service could face prosecution over 'preventable' death of inmate

Teresa Medhurst (right) said she was not 'at liberty' to reveal who made the decision to send Isla Bryson to a women's prison

Teresa Medhurst (right) said she was not 'at liberty' to reveal who made the decision to send Isla Bryson to a women's prison

6

Prison service boss 'not at liberty to say' who made Isla Bryson decision

Isla Bryson was found to have raped two women

Isla Bryson was found to have raped two women

Nicola Sturgeon

18

Urgent review into Isla Bryson case finds women were 'at no point at risk of harm'

Stephen Flynn said issues in Scotland's prisons related to a 'very small number of people'

Stephen Flynn said issues in Scotland's prisons related to a 'very small number of people'

Gender equality

16

Gender reform bill ‘in no way related’ to trans prison row, Stephen Flynn says

Cornton Vale, the women's jail where double-rapist Isla Bryson was briefly imprisoned before outcry

Cornton Vale, the women's jail where double-rapist Isla Bryson was briefly imprisoned before outcry

7

Transgender prisoners: What are the facts in the UK jails?

Isla Bryson was convicted of raping two women in January

Isla Bryson was convicted of raping two women in January

1

Most Scots believe trans rapist Isla Bryson belongs in male prison, poll finds

Some have sought to cast blame for controversy around complex issues exclusively at the First Minister and the SNP

Some have sought to cast blame for controversy around complex issues exclusively at the First Minister and the SNP

Gender reform row

1

Row about housing of trans prisoners conflates two separate issues

Keith Brown has announced measures to be put in place while the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is conducting a review of the policy on trans inmates

Keith Brown has announced measures to be put in place while the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is conducting a review of the policy on trans inmates

17

Trans convicts with history of violence against women won't be housed in female jail

The Scottish Tories have urged Nicola Sturgeon to personally intervene in the case of a trans prisoner who has applied to be housed in a female jail

The Scottish Tories have urged Nicola Sturgeon to personally intervene in the case of a trans prisoner who has applied to be housed in a female jail

Nicola Sturgeon

5

Calls for second trans prisoner to be blocked from serving sentence in women's jail

Ayrshire College said it had no prior knowledge of charges against the Isla Bryson

Ayrshire College said it had no prior knowledge of charges against the Isla Bryson

11

Double rapist Isla Bryson enrolled at college while facing charges

Keith Brown also told MSPs that the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill would have no implication on which prisons transgender people are held in.

Keith Brown also told MSPs that the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill would have no implication on which prisons transgender people are held in.

Conservative Party

5

Scottish minister ‘trusts’ decision to send transgender rapist to women’s jail

Isla Bryson, formerly known as Adam Graham, was convicted of raping two women

Isla Bryson, formerly known as Adam Graham, was convicted of raping two women

26

Trans woman guilty of rape should not be in female prison, Joanna Cherry says

An image taken inside HMP Low Moss, where a prisoner died on Christmas Eve

An image taken inside HMP Low Moss, where a prisoner died on Christmas Eve

1

Probe after prisoner dies in Scottish jail on Christmas Eve

An expert has said other countries should follow Scotland's lead on prisons

An expert has said other countries should follow Scotland's lead on prisons

Countries should 'absolutely' follow Scotland's lead on prisons, expert says

Community Safety Minister Ash Regan said the facility would change the way women in custody received support

Community Safety Minister Ash Regan said the facility would change the way women in custody received support

Scottish women's custody unit to bring 'step change' in support in UK first

Members of Polmont Youth Theatre are back rehearsing after a two-year hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic

Members of Polmont Youth Theatre are back rehearsing after a two-year hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic

1

Input is everything as Polmont Youth Theatre emerges from pandemic

Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, right, said the imprisonment of his brother-in-law Sayed Nizar Alwadaei when he was just 18 was a reprisal for his human rights work

Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, right, said the imprisonment of his brother-in-law Sayed Nizar Alwadaei when he was just 18 was a reprisal for his human rights work

Angus Robertson

'UK has done next to nothing': Government urged to secure release of Bahrain prisoner

Covid measures played a part in reducing the average daily population in Scottish prisons

Covid measures played a part in reducing the average daily population in Scottish prisons

1

Average daily population in Scottish prisons falls due to Covid measures

Why has a Scottish court refused extradition to Texas?

Why has a Scottish court refused extradition to Texas?

Why has a Scottish court refused extradition to Texas?

Huge drop in drug-related incidents in prisons after new policy introduced

Huge drop in drug-related incidents in prisons after new policy introduced

1

Huge drop in drug-related incidents in prisons after new policy introduced