Warning over decline in throughcare for short-term prisoners

The number of voluntary throughcare cases commenced fell by 20 per cent between 2024-25 and 2025-26, according to figures released by the Scottish government. The figure is now at its lowest level in the past decade.

Throughcare is intended to help people released from custody reintegrate into the community and reduce the risk of reoffending.

The Scottish government’s Voluntary Throughcare Service provides support to people who have served custodial sentences of less than four years. In 2024/25, people serving sentences of four years or less accounted for 44 per cent of the prison population.

Almost 1,100 short-term prisoners have been released early as part of efforts to tackle overcrowding. Scotland’s prison population nevertheless remains at 8,500, above the system’s stated capacity of 7,805.

Separate figures show that 42.5 per cent of people released from custody were reconvicted within a year.

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Yi-pei Chou Turvey MSP said: “The reconviction rate in Scotland is stubbornly high, and there are record numbers of people in our prisons despite the SNP’s early release scheme.

“A decline in throughcare makes it harder to deal with these issues because throughcare helps people reintegrate into the community and cuts reoffending. It’s also very worrying to see a drop in this specific kind of throughcare because it applies those who make up a big chunk of the prison population.

“Right now, the Scottish government lacks a clear, long-term plan for the prison overcrowding crisis. If that is to change, ministers must get serious about supporting staff, giving the throughcare system the resources it needs and driving down the use of remand.”