Prison pressures mean ‘temporary’ reoffending policy cannot be revived
Prison boss es have warned they cannot revive a key measure to halt reoffending that was temporarily paused five years ago while they continue to combat a “rising prison population”.
The throughcare support service that helped 100 prisoners a month move on and away from reoffending was ”temporarily” suspended in 2019. the scottish Prisons er vice(sps)h as warned inmates could be released early to help ease the pressure on overcrowded jails.
Around 8,000 prisoners are in jails across Scotland, but prison boss es have warned that inmates may have to be released early if the prison population continues to rise.
Scottish Lib Dems justice spokesperson Liam Mcarthur is calling on the Scottish Government to explain how it will support rehabilitative measures in prisons, after it was revealed there are no plans to bring back the throughcare system.
The throughcare service paired prisoners with a support officer who helped them make arrangements for housing, medical provision and benefits, both before and after release. The service was suspended “temporarily” in summer 2019, but it was never restarted as pressures on the prison service have not eased.
Mr Mcarthur said: “Our prison population is at worryingly high levels, but that should be the argument for, not against, throughcare. Support like this makes all the difference between a life rehabilitated, or a life of re off ending. Scottish Liberal democrats have been warning for years about the impact of overcrowding. The response to date from ministers, however, has made no difference. We are now seeing prison bosses making decisions they don’t want to make and third-sector organisations are having to step in to plug the gaps. “Scottish Liberal Democrats want to see prisons used as an opportunity to provide new skills and a means of making a positive contribution upon release ."
SPS chief executive Teresa Medhurst, inset, said the suspension of the service in 2019 was “a temporary measure in response to operational pressures within establishments, which necessitated the need to redeploy operational prison staff”.
She said a “commitment was made at the time that this position would be kept under regular review, and this has not changed”.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government continues to fund throughcare services to support people leaving prison which are delivered by both local authorities and the third sector. a total of £148 million will be invested in community justiceservices in 2025-25 to reduce re-off ending and support alternativesto custody an increase of £14m.
“The Scottish Government is continuing to invest in communityinterventions which are more effective than short prison sentences at reducing reoffending. The Bail and Release from Custody Act 2023 will also improve support for people leaving prison.”