Landlines in cells will cut re-offending, says think-tank

STEPHEN NAYSMITH

sentences of six months or less in Scotland and an end to automatic early release for short sentences. Although the Government introduced a presumption against sentences of three months or less in 2010, they have continued to be used, Reform Scotland says, with more than 4,000 people given such sentences in 2016.

The report argues short sentences cause disproportionate damage to prisoners’ lives but offer no hope of rehabilitation, because most courses designed to help prisoners go straight take six months or more.

The idea of phones in cells was welcomed by prison reformers and charities. Nancy Loucks, chief executive of Families Outside, the charity which works to support the families of prisoners, said: “Imprisonment fractures families. It separates people from the things most likely to prevent them from offending, such as housing, employment and social support, increasing the risk of family breakdown, relapse and homelessness.”

She said more use should be made of community sentences. “Community-based measures are designed to address the reasons behind someone’s offending while maintaining their links to their communities – something short prison sentences simply cannot do.”

Lisa Mackenzie, policy adviser with the Howard League for Scotland, said: “It is in all our interests to ensure those coming out of prison are given every opportunity to turn their lives around.

“Maintaining family relationships is key to a prisoner’s successful rehabilitation on release.”

She said some prisoners did not receive regular visits in prison, while female prisoners are less likely to be visited by their children than males.

“The cost of travelling to the prison can be a factor, as can distance,” she said. “The ability to maintain contact via phone calls is therefore very important and some prisons in England have experimented with the introduction of in-cell phones. We welcome Reform Scotland’s suggestion and hope that this will be taken up by the Scottish Prison Service.”

But Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr said: “We agree rehabilitation is crucial, and maintaining a family