« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
9. The Scottish Prison Service15
The Scottish Prison Service ( SPS) is an integral part of the justice system in Scotland. Communities rely on the SPS to not only keep prisoners in custody but also to prepare them for release. The SPS is legally required to deliver custodial services for all those sent by the courts.
In 2007/08 the average daily population in all Scottish prisons totalled nearly 7,400 - an increase of 3% on 2006/07, and the highest annual level ever recorded. Around 700 (9.5%) of these prisoners are sex offenders.
SPS complies with the procedures for MAPPA as detailed within Sections 10 and 11 of the Management of Offenders etc (Scotland) Act 2005. This means that information, risk assessments and action plans relating to sex offenders are shared with Police forces, Criminal Justice Social Work ( CJSW) and Health. SPS, along with all responsible authorities, is preparing to play a full part in the forthcoming expansion of MAPPA to cover violent offenders and other offenders.
Whilst in SPS custody all convicted offenders including those subject to MAPPA, go through the Integrated Case Management ( ICM) process. This is a multi-agency approach that is focused on reducing re-offending by ensuring, where possible, risks are identified and a plan is in place for each offender to reduce those risks in a sequenced and co-ordinated manner.
MAPPA Audits
MAPPA audits were carried out in Autumn 2007 by SPS Audit and Assurance services. Five establishments were audited - Barlinnie, Edinburgh, Dumfries, Peterhead and Polmont. Overall, 4 establishments displayed 'reasonable assurance' (i.e. Satisfactory) that MAPPA arrangements had been implemented to a satisfactory level in the establishments. One establishment - Edinburgh - required a second compliance visit in Spring 2008 to obtain a 'reasonable assurance' rating.
SPS involvement in local and national MAPPA groups
SPS plays a major part in MAPPA groups. MAPPA operational and steering groups at CJA level are attended by senior SPS staff and SPS is also a key player in the Scottish Government-led MAPPA Working Group. SPS have appointed 4 SPSCJA Liaison managers to facilitate partnership working.
There is SPS representation at pre-release MAPP panels for level 3 offenders (and by invitation, where required, to subsequent MAPP panels). Also, there is SPS representation at Level 2 MAPPA meetings where it is viewed to be an appropriate use of SPS resources. This satisfies the legislative requirement for SPS to share information with partner organisations.
Programme Completion
SPS provides nationally accredited programmes and other interventions which aim to achieve improvements in the attitudes or behaviours which have led to offending in the past. The programmes encourage offenders to accept greater responsibility in managing their own behaviour and the impact this has on victims and on their own families. The main example for sex offenders is the Sex Offender Treatment Programme ( SOTP).
The SOTP programmes for sex offenders take place in Barlinnie, Edinburgh, Peterhead and Polmont. Other prisons may send offenders to these establishments to complete the programmes. A range of additional accredited programmes (termed Approved Activities) including anger management, relationship skills, and alcohol awareness are made available to sex offenders via an assessment of need.
Altogether, over 200 programmes and approved activities were completed by sex offenders in 2007-08, 28 of whom were from the Lanarkshire CJA area. Some programmes involve more than 100 hours of group and intervention work. Further details of treatment programmes can be identified in section 10.
Risk Assessments
As with all responsible authorities, Risk Matrix 2000 and Stable and Acute 2007 are the main risk assessment tools used by SPS for sex offenders. Over 750 risk assessments have been carried out on registered sex offenders in Scottish prisons during 2007-08.
Staff Training
There has been significant training of SPS and Prison Based Social Work ( PBSW) staff on the use of the Stable and Acute 2007 ( SA07) tools. 83 SPS and PBSW staff were trained in SA07 during 2007-08. There has already been extensive training in place in SPS on RM2000 in previous financial years, and the training requirement is now less significant. Role play training and training on the delivery of the Sex Offender Treatment Programme ( SOTP) were other notable events.
A more detailed SPSMAPPA report can be found on the SPS website at http://www.sps.gov.uk
In the Lanarkshire CJA area, there are approximately 70 RSOs in SPS establishments each month.
Figure 1: Lanarkshire CJA area RSOs in SPS establishments in 2007/2008 16
Source: SPS
HMP Addiewell
A significant development for the Lanarkshire CJA area is that HMP Addiewell in West Lothian will take its first prisoners on December 12 2008. It will accommodate 700 male remand, short and long term prisoners, coming mainly from the Lanarkshire CJA area and arriving over a phase-in period. Both adult and young prisoners will figure in the prison's population.
HMP Addiewell will play its part in helping to achieve the Scottish Government and Scottish Prison Service's goal of reducing re-offending. The concentration at Addiewell is on developing ways of achieving the nine "Prisoner Outcomes" detailed in the SPS Business Plans for 2006-07 and 2007-08 and in the National Strategy for the Management of Offenders.
It will be a "learning" prison, a place where prisoners can address not only their offending behaviour and individual circumstances which led to their imprisonment, but also where they can be helped to improve their employability prospects, their wellbeing and community support networks, not least those involving their friends and families. That approach has been a major influence on designing both the physical structure and the regime for the new prison.
Kalyx Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sodexo, have a 25-year Public Private Partnership ( PPP) contract to operate the prison on behalf of the SPS. Kalyx has substantial experience of operating prisons, including responsibility currently for three prisons in England containing some 2,000 male and 760 female prisoners.
Audrey Park, Director in charge of HMP Addiewell, commented: " The prison will operate within a set of guiding principles which will help shape what is done and what is delivered for prisoners, staff, visitors and other stakeholders, including local and wider communities. Working with Lanarkshire Community Justice Authority, other relevant CJA and other agencies, we will strive to make a positive difference to the lives of the individuals entrusted to our care."
« Previous | Contents | Next »