Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Prisoners released early heading to city
UP to 70 prisoners are being released early from their sentences and moved into council houses in Dundee to ease pressure on jails during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Tele has learned the first prisoner is due to arrive in the city on Thursday, with more to follow next month as part of a national early release programme.
A council source said: “Council properties throughout Dundee are being prepared to provide homes for prisoners and their families.
“These properties are being redecorated and furniture and brand new white goods are being put into them in readiness to take the prisoners.”
Kevin Keenan, leader of the city council’s Labour group, confirmed prisoners are expected to start arriving later this week and that the local authority had been preparing to accept early release inmates.
“The council has been in talks about how this will work,” he said.
“Properties have been made ready and issues such as providing doctors and medical and drug support have all been looked at.”
The Scottish Government announced last week that a number of short-term prisoners nearing the end of their time in custody will be released early.
A city council spokesman said the authority was in regular contact with the Scottish Prison Service about the programme.
He said: “Preparations involving council service areas and partner agencies are being made to co-ordinate support for prisoners from the city who are released early and will return to Dundee.
“The council will also continue its statutory duties to those who find themselves homeless during this difficult time.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said the early release plan would help prison and healthcare staff to
“continue to manage safely all those who remain in their care during the outbreak and follows measures taken across the world including elsewhere in the UK”.
“The scheme will be limited to those sentenced to 18 months or less and who on April 30 have 90 days or less left to serve.
“The release of prisoners under the regulations will be subject to exclusions to ensure public protection, such as those who are imprisoned for life or with convictions for sexual offences, domestic abuse or terrorism offences.”