Sixty-eight inmates supported to leave
An enhanced package of support for prisoners being released in Perth has seen 68 former inmates given backing.
Tayside Community Justice Authority reported that posts of Throughcare Support Officers have been created to form better connections with the community, and to boost inmates’chances on release.
The new arrangement was put in place with some 40 posts created via the Scottish Prison Service.
TSOs are expected to support individuals“on their journey to desistance”by preparing them for life outside the prison estate in a transition period.
One of the main focuses of this is people under 25 years old, although all prisoners have access to a 12-week period of backing ahead of walking out of the prison gates.
Between 2015 and 2016 nearly 1000 service users were supported through TSO for community reintegration.
In Perth further work to help ensure prisoners turn away from reoffending, called Integrated Case Management, has been in place for more than a year.
In the year to March 2016 945 short term prisoners were managed through ICM, with 64 prisoners disengaging from the process.
The schemes to reintegrate prisoners were discussed at a Perth HMP meeting in December, during which Castle Huntly Prison’s performance was brought up.
The prison, Scotland’s only open estate, has been setting up no smoking areas. Currently state prisons are not required to have no smoking, but the Scottish Prison Service was looking at introducing it.
TCJA reported that 96 rooms in two of the wings at the prison are non-smoking zones, and this would be rolled out.