‘Credible and consistent’ alternatives to custodial sentences necessary

'Credible and consistent' alternatives to custodial sentences necessary

Keith Brown

Justice Secretary Keith Brown has said “credible and consistent” alternatives to custodial sentences are necessary in order to stem the number of people being imprisoned in Scotland.

Speaking to the justice and social affairs magazine 1919 – which is entirely funded by the Scottish Police Federation – he said that reducing the remand population would be a priority. The Scottish government is considering powers that would see entire groups of prisoners released “in response to exceptional circumstances” as fears rise over the ability of jails to cope with the rising prison population.

Under the proposals, inmates could be released before completing half of their sentences.

Certain types of prisoner would be allowed to “demonstrate their suitability for earlier release” or “to serve the remainder of their sentence in the community”.

Mr Brown told the magazine: “I think there’s relatively widespread agreement, and it’s certainly true in the police as well, certainly the police that I’ve spoken to, that for some people prison is not the best place for them.”

He added: “There is a challenge as well, and it’s not a quick one, to make sure that the community justice options are more credible and consistent, so sometimes the courts might be reluctant to go down that road if they don’t think the community justice disposal is sufficient, so we’ve got a job on our hands which we’re looking at just now.

“We’re currently reviewing the community justice strategy, and we want to improve that.”

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Jamie Greene said: “While Keith Brown promotes community sentences, his government is trying to sneak through proposals to release criminals after they’ve served just a third of their prison sentence. Where’s the justice in that?”

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