£630k bill to help prisoners claim benefits when released
TAXPAYERS are footing a £630,000 bill for a scheme that helps convicted criminals claim benefits once they have left Scotland’s ‘softest’ jail.
‘Support workers’ help criminals to claim benefits, set up bank accounts or reregister with their GPs in the hope the mentoring will reduce reoffending.
The ‘minders’ offer intensive help to inmates once they leave Low Moss Prison – frequently criticised for its ‘luxury hotel’ conditions – to adapt to the outside world.
The scheme is aimed at ‘vulnerable’ prisoners serving less than four years, but those convicted of more serious crimes are eligible.
Ministers yesterday said the fact that only 15 per cent of criminals participating in the pilot project were sent back to jail meant it was a success. It will now be extended to March 2017, thanks to an extra £200,000 from the Scottish Government.
But Scottish Tory welfare reform spokesman Alex Johnstone said: ‘Rehabilitation is an essential part of the justice system and helping prisoners access benefits is occasionally part of that.
‘However, we would prefer to see the focus more on giving offenders work and education while inside. That would reduce the chances of them depending on benefits upon their release and mean they could think about contributing to society instead of relying on it.’
A ‘multi-agency’ team at Low Moss, i n Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow, works with inmates from their arrival until up to a year after release.
Prisoners at Low Moss, which has a state-of-the-art gym and televisions, are also being helped to get legal advice on how to sue over poor conditions. Staff ‘ facilitate contact’ with the European Court of Human Rights so convicts can prepare taxpayer-funded cases.
According to the Scottish Government, the Low Moss Public Social Partnership works to ‘improve relationships with their families and communities, supporting them in prison and helping them feel settled and adapt to life once they leave prison’.
Results from the first year of the pilot project in 2013- 14, found that, of the 201 prisoners released, only 30 had returned to custody by the end of 2014.
Prisoners r eferred to the project are allocated a key worker who creates a personal care plan for them to make sure they get access to the right services at the right time.
The project is also funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the Robertson Trust.
This latest funding boost brings the Scottish Government spend on the project to £634,000.
Eben Wilson of Taxpayer-Scotland said: ‘It looks like this programme is producing unusually good results, which no doubt comes from its localised focus on individually tailored help driven by its charitable intentions.
‘This tells us simply throwing taxpayers’ money at social problems is not enough; there has to be a real concentration on outcomes through localisation to make our tax money work hard.’
A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said the scheme ‘reduces harm and makes economic sense and is about making sure support, help and advice are available, to break the cycle of prisoners returning to custody’.
Housing and Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess said: ‘Investing £200,000 to ensure this pilot is extended will make a massive difference to prisoners.’
‘Unusually good results’