OUTRAGE OVER JAIL AMNESTY FOR CAREER CRIMINALS
Plan to write off thousands of crimes so inmates can be given a fresh start
THOUSANDS of victims are to be denied justice under an amnesty for prisoners in Scotland’s jails who face outstanding court cases.
The move – proposed by police and prosecutors – will see serving prisoners offered a deal to write off other offences.
Aimed at saving cash and court time, the cases would include shoplifting, fraud, assault and weapons offences.
But the plan – ironically named Clean Slate – has raised fresh concerns about Scottish ‘soft-touch justice’, with even those behind the initiative warning that they expect criticism over a ‘perceived reduction in judicial penalties’.
Scottish Tory justice spokesman Douglas Ross said: ‘It can’t be used by the SNP as a way of emptying jails without any
further thought, that would be an outrage. We cannot afford for criminals to think they can do what they like because this initiative will come riding to their rescue.’
David Hines, of the National Victims’ Association, said: ‘This sounds like a cost-cutting exercise and I’ve no doubt prisoners will be laughing up their sleeves.
‘What happens if they go out and commit other crimes? Do these crimes stay forgotten about? There’s no thought about victims. Victims are neglected in society.’
Only last week it emerged that the number of criminals handed Community Payback Orders as an alternative to prison had soared by 90 per cent since their introduction in 2011, to a record 19,410 last year.
The Scottish Government was accused of insulting victims in 2015 after a law scrapping ‘automatic early release’ still allowed thousands to leave prison after serving only half their sentence.
And last week, SNP Ministers rejected calls for ‘life means life’ jail sentences, which already exist in England. Concerns about the ‘lenient’ treatment of prisoners were also raised last week when it emerged the murderer of a 13-year-old boy was taunting his victim’s family from behind bars, after being allowed to use Facebook in prison.
Jordan McCready, 21, who is serving life for kicking schoolboy Jon Wilson to death in 2011, also boasted online about his ‘hotel’ lifestyle in high-security Shotts Prison.
Clean Slate will not apply to the most serious cases, classed as ‘solemn’, which are heard at a High Court or before a sheriff and jury.
Following a successful trial with prisoners in Glasgow, Police Scotland is already looking at how it would work across the country.
Plans to expand the pilot are contained in a report to the Glasgow Community Justice Authority (GCJA), which led the trial between
‘This sounds like a cost-cutting exercise’
May and August last year. It argues that offering prisoners a clean slate will ‘reduce gate arrests [arresting a prisoner as he leaves jail for another offence] and the interruption to community reintegration’, ‘improve motivation to engage in prison-based support and interventions’, and ‘save time and resources associated with multiple court hearings’.
A total of 43 prisoners took part in the pilot and 11 had their offences marked ‘no further action’. Only three were considered ‘too serious to discontinue’ and made to plead in court. However, one of those was then discontinued anyway. Other deals were either rejected or passed to Crown Office agents for their consideration.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said no decision had been made on whether or not it should be rolled out Scotland-wide. A Crown Office spokesman said: ‘We note the preliminary results of the Glasgow pilot with interest and will work with partner agencies to determine whether it is appropriate to extend the pilot to other locations in due course.
‘The pilot is aimed at ensuring outstanding criminal matters are considered and, where appropriate, dealt with by the court before an offender is released.’
Tom Jackson, GCJA chief officer and report author, insisted it was not a soft option. He said: ‘There are two aspects to this. There are efficiencies for all justice partners in completing responsibilities in the most expedient way. And for individuals, this will bring closure to outstanding issues or clarity so they can get on with their lives.’
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson is committed to bringing down the prison population, which he considers too high for a ‘progressive penal policy’.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We welcome that Glasgow has found the Clean Slate programme effective. It would be for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to take any decision on whether to expand this.’
VICTIMS of crime have a right to expect justice. If our courts cannot provide it, wherever possible, then something has gone badly wrong.
A proposed amnesty which will see serving prisoners offered deals to escape outstanding complaints and warrants might ease pressure on an overloaded system but it will also mean their victims are denied justice.
The Clean Slate plan completely undermines the integrity of our criminal justice system; it will make meaningless the damage caused by offenders and the pain suffered by their victims.
Of course, it is essential that every effort is made to rehabilitate those who break the law.
But we must not lose sight of the fact that criminals must also pay a price for their offences.