This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Open prisons in Scotland
07/02/2007
Real improvements have been made at Scotland's two open prisons, Castle Huntly and Noranside, according to the latest report published by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons.
Dr Andrew McLellan's report, based on a follow up inspection of the Open Estate in September 2006, finds that there has been a good response to concerns raised in previous inspections and highlights the following:
- Accommodation is now very good
- The Links Centre has opened and is providing a focus for activity in Castle Huntly
- Continuous Cell Occupancy has started in Noranside. This allows some prisoners one week per month on Home Leave and provides an additional 27 prisoner places. The arrangements have been managed very well, but the impact on the rest of the regime needs to be monitored
- Prisoners are spending less time locked in their rooms in Castle Huntly
- Additional resources have been provided for social work and addictions. Both of these departments are now better able to cope and are providing a very good service
Dr McLellan said:
"The Open Estate has a crucial role to play in the preparation of prisoners for release. It should make it possible for prisoners to develop their sense of personal responsibility and be reintegrated into society when they have served their sentences. Thus public safety should be improved. That is why I am pleased to see evidence of real improvement across the Open Estate in Scotland.
"This inspection shows that considerable attention has been paid to the recommendations made in my last full inspection report, published in 2005. That report was critical of several aspects of the Open Estate, many of which have now been addressed.
"Last year's report described conditions in the five-bedded dormitories in Castle Huntly as 'miserable' and there were suggestions that poor conditions in these dormitories led to increased drug use. The closure of these dormitories and their conversion into two bedded cells is a very welcome step indeed.
"At the same time two new buildings have been brought into use at Castle Huntly. One is an accommodation houseblock providing very good conditions for 141 more prisoners. The second new building is the Links Centre, which offers good education and work opportunities. It is also an excellent facility for the important contacts made between prisoners near the end of their sentences and outside agencies concerned with housing, benefits and employment.
"At Noranside much of the activity since the last report has been concentrated on the introduction of 'continuous cell occupancy'. Under this initiative some prisoners, after appropriate risk assessments have been carried out, are able to spend one week per month on Home Leave. The scheme also means that another 27 prisoner places are now available at Noranside. There are however still serious concerns about the scheme as many other aspects of the life of the prison such as the provision of education and work opportunities have been marginalised in order to make it work.
"There are three other good developments. The introduction of integrated case management is already delivering improved cooperation between prison staff and social work departments. This is particularly important for prisoners approaching the end of their sentences.
"Secondly, there has been an increase in resources for addressing addiction problems. Thirdly, it is very noticeable that the 'lock-up' culture which made Castle Huntly a strange kind of open prison has been replaced by arrangements which give prisoners more responsibility."