Matheson: Put fewer criminals in prison
SNP Justice Secretary is criticised over ‘soft-touch’ plan to tackle re-offending SEE PAGE 2
THE SNP have been accused of running a “soft-touch” justice system after unveiling plans to slash the number of criminals sent to jail.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said offenders would be caged “only where necessary” as part of a new strategy to deal with a “stubbornly high” prison population.
But opponents blasted the move and claimed the Scottish Government’s approach was a “slap in the face” to victims.
The launch of Holyrood’s Vision and Priorities for Justice report came as work to demolish Scotland’s only female prison – Cornton Vale, near Stirling – began.
The controversial jail is being replaced by a smaller 80 capacity prison plus five new “communitybased custody units” for up to 20 women located across Scotland.
Matheson announced that the first two units are to be based in Glasgow and either Dundee or Fife.
The plan aims to allow female offenders to be housed closer to their families and given support to help them address problems such as alcohol, drugs, mental illness or domestic abuse.
The report said Scotland had 138 prisoners per 100,000 population, lower than in England and Wales but more than recorded elsewhere in western Europe.
“Over half of those released from