Prison puzzle

It is good to see that the Chief Inspector of Prisons is calling for prison terms of less than a year to be phased out (your report, 31 July).

Those with long memories will recall such recommendations were made in 2008, in the report by the Scottish Prisons Commission, chaired by Henry Mcleish. The Commission recommended that community sentencing should replace short term prison sentences.

As the Scottish Prison service records only appear to show the sentences of four years and below, it’s hard to know how many prisoners are serving one-year terms. However, we do know that short term sentences are not conducive to “unlocking potential and transforming lives”, as short term prisoners are less likely to be able to enter and complete rehabilitation programmes offered by the prisons. At around £40,000 per prisoner per year and with a current prison population of over 7,000, the costs are substantial.

Unlock the short term prisoners and release their potential through community sentencing.