This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Prison Open Estate report published
10/02/2004
"Many of the things that matter in a prison are done
well in the Open Estate. But full and proper preparation
for release is still not taking place", Scotland's Chief
Inspector of Prisons, Andrew McLellan said today on
publication of his HMCIP report.
The report on the Open Estate, which comprises HM
Prisons Castle Huntly and Noranside, draws attention to
good accommodation, food, healthcare, visits, education and
work placements. But it also notes that arrangements for
Sentence Management were poor at Noranside and had
deteriorated at Castle Huntly. Preparation for Release
generally was not good and steps to reorganise employment
had actually reduced employment available at Castle
Huntly.
Dr McLellan said:
"Some of the central issues associated with a decent and
safe prison were being dealt with very satisfactorily:
accommodation, food, physical safety, healthcare and
visits. The range and quality of placements and project
work in the community available to long-term prisoners were
also good. A beginning has been made in addressing the
problem of short-term prisoners accessing the same
facilities as long termers.
"The general issue of preparation for release is perhaps
the biggest disappointment of the report. Sentence
Management - quite fundamental to prisoners as they prepare
for release - is scarcely taking place at Noranside and has
also deteriorated at Castle Huntly. While steps have been
taken to begin to reorganise employment with a view to an
impressive scheme which will integrate both sites, to date
the result has been actually to reduce the employment
available at Castle Huntly. An appropriate drug strategy
is being developed and that is to be welcomed. Some
programmes are now in place, aimed mainly at addiction
issues. However, although planning has been done and
reports prepared, preparation for release of prisoners is
scarcely different from that available a year ago.
The main security issues identified were absconding and
bringing drugs into the prison. Between January and end of
September 2003 there were 54 absconds (42 from Castle
Huntly and 12 from Noranside). Random Mandatory Drug
Testing indicated that 77% of prisoners who were randomly
tested in Castle Huntly tested negative for drugs (compared
to 64% at the last inspection) and 72% in Noranside tested
negative (compared to 83% at the last inspection). A new
policy on the management of prisoners testing positive has
however had a noticeable impact. Some programmes are now
in place to address addictions problems. A comprehensive
Open Estate drugs policy has been launched and an
addictions team set up. Others initiatives have also been
put in place.
"There have been no assaults in the last year and
relationships between staff and prisoners are
excellent."
Scotland's prisons are subject to regular inspection. A
full inspection normally takes place every three years and
examines all aspects of the establishment. Follow up
inspections are carried out in years where a full
inspection does not take place and these examine points of
note raised in previous inspections, examine significant
changes since then, and explore issues arising from the
establishment's own assessment of itself.
The inspection of the Open Estate was a follow up
inspection with a focus on conditions in which prisoners
live and on the way prisoners are treated.