ANNUAL REPORT 1995-96

ANNEX 5

OTHER AGENCIES INVOLVED WITH PENAL ESTABLISHMENTS

1. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) provides an information service in all SPS establishments and in most of them holds regular sharing meetings for those who wish to access information using approved AA members as speakers. Where applicable, one to one sponsorship is made available to prisoners who might otherwise be inhibited by the constraints of speaking freely within meetings. The opportunity to be met on release by an AA member is also available to prisoners. Additionally, AA members are involved in communicating information about alcohol to Governors and staff both within establishments and in talks at the SPS College, Polmont. A review of AA involvement is conducted on a bi-annual basis at meetings between its Liaison Officers and SPS/SPOA representatives. Contact telephone number 0141 221 9027.

2. APEX (Scotland)

APEX is involved in a variety of programmes involving individual counselling and the running of Employment Preparation Courses for groups of prisoners nearing release. Its Training Work and Experience Programme (TWEPs) is designed to help prisoners with 6-8 months of their sentence remaining to focus on employment issues, offering training and work related experience which will ensure more successful re-integration in the labour market. It also runs courses to tackle difficulties with literacy and is becoming involved in the training of Prison Officers both as basic Education Tutors on sentence planning and with their role as Personal Officers. Contact telephone number 0131 220 0130.

The Dundee Chamber of Commerce is involved in similar agency work for some prisons in Perth and Tayside.

3. THE HOPE GROUP

HOPE is a voluntary organisation which has been working throughout Scotland's Criminal Justice System for the past seven years. The Management Committee comprises two Prison Chaplains, two Senior Social Work Managers, one Education Advisor, one Life Prisoner and one Lawyer. Its network and projects offer the following:- Family Support; Men's Development; Employment; Aftercare/Supported Lodging; and Scotland's only Visitors' Centre at HMP Perth. The work of the Project Officer is complemented by eight Volunteer Support Groups comprising a total of 150 volunteers who offer support to isolated prisoners and to their families in the community. A Glasgow Group is active in HMP Barlinnie whilst a Lanarkshire Group operates in HMP Shotts. The Groups operating in HMP Edinburgh and in the Paisley area work exclusively with families, whilst in the Perth area, the local group operates the Visitors' Centre. In Dundee a group is active in HMP Castle Huntly offering help and support by providing general befrienders and a Falkirk Group offers a similar befriending service to YOs in HMYOI Polmont. An East Kilbride Group operates within HMP Dungavel, visiting isolated prisoners to offer general help and support. The organisation also runs four prisoners' wives/partners support groups; two in Glasgow and two in Perth. Contact telephone number 0141 553 2545.

4. THE HOWARD LEAGUE FOR PENAL REFORM (SCOTLAND) aims to provide policies which reduce poverty and unemployment in society, prevent crime by providing alternatives to crime (eg, employment and training in the community), assist the early detection of criminal behaviour, ensure that civil rights are observed and that the police are trained to exercise their powers properly, encourage decriminalisation and diversion from the Criminal Justice System wherever possible, ensure that the Courts dispense humane justice with imprisonment as a last resort, foster constructive regimes in prisons in order to reduce recidivism and help the reintegration of offenders into the community of which they are members. It also aims to make known to the public, the media and workers in the field, that there is an alternative to punitive justice, namely restorative justice. Contact telephone number 0131 556 1687.

5. PRISON FELLOWSHIP (SCOTLAND)

Prison Fellowship (PF) is a Christian, inter-denominational, voluntary organisation and a Scottish Registered Charity. Its work is overseen by a Board of Trustees who come from all walks of life and the organisation has two full-time coordinating Directors. 250 volunteers are involved in a number of caring and serving roles which include:-

Being part of a PF prayer support group (40 such groups exist throughout Scotland).

Writing to prisoners.

Taking part in in-prison meetings.

Taking/marking Bible Studies.

Befriending/helping ex-prisoners and their families.

Linking ex-prisoners with outside agencies.

Welcoming families and released prisoners to its PF Centre in Glasgow.

Contact telephone number 0141 332 8870.

6. THE PRISON REFORM TRUST

The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) aims to create a just, humane and effective penal system. This is done by:

Inquiring into the workings of the system.

Informing prisoners, staff and the wider public.

Influencing Parliament, Government and officials towards reform.

Copies of its quarterly magazine are sent free of charge to prisoners; a penfriend scheme for prisoners is also available. PRT does not have a separate office in Scotland, but regular contact is maintained with all levels in the SPS. Contact telephone number 0171 251 5070

7. Sacro

Sacro is a national voluntary organisation working to reduce offending, make communities safer and inform change in criminal justice policy. Its services include:

A mediation service which offers an alternative to court procedures as a means of settling offences.

Probation Programmes.

A Bail Service (not hostels) which in partnership with Lothian Region, offers the courts supervision and accommodation in the community for accused persons who are likely to be or have been remanded in custody. Accommodation is currently provided through a network of supported lodgings and hostel beds provided by local landladies/landlords.

Supported Accommodation - some of which caters specifically for young people between the ages of 15 and 18.

Offence-Specific Initiatives.

Sacro also continues to operate Information Points in HMP Shotts and HM Remand Institution Longriggend both of which use trained volunteers. In addition, transport services operating from Edinburgh and Glasgow visit 13 penal establishments and the State Hospital at Carstairs. A family service in Glasgow runs locally based groups, enabling prisoners to provide each other with mutual support whilst another group addresses the special needs of mothers of offenders: befriending of individual prisoners is part of the work of the Edinburgh Day Service. Sacro also assists in the training of some Prison Officers in a welfare role. Contact telephone number 0131 226 4222

8. SALVATION ARMY

The Salvation Army aims to provide services to those who are associated with and are affected by the Criminal Justice System by offering support and practical assistance, through a demonstration of Christian love and concern. Recently it has been developing a more co-ordinated approach, working in conjunction with Chaplains, prison staff, social workers and other agencies. During 1995-96 a total of 34 prisoners who were due to be liberated, received training in six of the Army's centres to prepare them for their release. Accommodation was also provided separately for over 70 prisoners in local social service centres. Some prisoners also used these centres for their home-leave entitlement, whilst other prisoners on release also took part in a 15 week programme at the Army’s Detoxification and Rehabilitation Unit. A family tracing service is available to all prisoners with care and support also being available via a network of 'Prepared to Care' groups who will visit prisoners' families on request. Food parcels, clothing and furniture are distributed in addition to the provision of pastoral visits and counselling - eg in cases of bereavement. Contact telephone number 0141 779 4661.

9. SAVE THE CHILDREN

The Save the Children Fund (SCF) is an international relief and development organisation committed to advancing children's rights. It aims to improve conditions and services experienced by young people in relation to the criminal justice system - either as offenders themselves or as the children of prisoners -  and to raise awareness of the social factors that contribute to young people's entry to the criminal justice system. Because the majority of prisoners' children suffer substantial harm as a consequence of the separation and other material and emotional hardships, SCF seeks to gather information and promote changes to their benefit. SCF also advocates the benefits of a range of supportive inter-agency initiatives working with families, children and prisoners, both within prisons and in the community. SCF works closely with the Scottish Forum on Prisons and Families, providing support and accommodation for the Forum's Executive Officer. It also grants aid towards the further development of play services in prisons and information/advice services for the families of prisoners. Contact telephone number 0131 527 8200.

10. THE SCOTTISH FORUM ON PRISONS AND FAMILIES

The Scottish Forum on Prisons and Families is a voluntary inter-agency organisation established in 1990 to address the needs of prisoners' families. The Forum explores with prisoners, their families and prison staff, the particular needs of all members in a family of whom one is imprisoned and promotes best practice in support of those needs.

The Forum is sponsored by the SPS and SCF Scottish Division. Membership comes from SPS (including Education and Social Work Units), SCF, Sacro, SPOA, WRVS, Toybox, the HOPE Group, the Salvation Army, Prison Fellowship, Social Work Departments, Prisoners' Families and Scottish Office Departments involved with Criminal Justice.

The Forum provides advice, support and encouragement to individuals who are interested in setting up Support Groups for prisoners' families and holds seminars to help facilitate the setting up of such groups. It also holds seminars to coordinate the work of prison FCDOs and is also involved in developmental work with prison staff and recruits through its Awareness Training Package which is designed to allow Officers to gain an understanding of the entire visiting experience from the perspective of the prisoner's family (and the positive effect family contact can have on the prison regime). It is estimated that upwards of 12,500 children in Scotland each year are affected by the imprisonment of a parent. Contact telephone number 0131 527 8200

11. TOYBOX

The Scottish Prison Toy Library Scheme is a community-based scheme run entirely by volunteers operating in a number of Scottish prisons, providing play facilities for visitors' children. Contact telephone number 0141 339 3428.

12 WRVS

This volunteer service provides refreshments for prisoners' visitors in eight establishments and assists with the provision of toys and transport for families. Clothing assistance for released prisoners is also given in some areas by special arrangement. Contact telephone number 0131 337 2261.

13. THE PRISONS VISITORS SCHEME

The scheme is normally administered by prison chaplains but those interested in becoming a prison visitor should in the first instance contact the Governor-in-Charge of the relevant establishment.

FOR INFORMATION:

AIRBORNE INITIATIVE SCOTLAND (AIS)

AIS is a major alternative to custody scheme and is based in Lanarkshire. It aims to provide the courts with programmes for 16-25 year olds who would otherwise face a custodial sentence or be released on licence. Participants are assisted to develop their sense of responsibility and are trained in life and employment skills, with supportive follow up systems included. The outdoor activities phase of the course draws on the experience of instructors from the Army's Airborne Forces.

Funding and an intermittent flow of potential participants continue to cause difficulties for this otherwise successful and cheaper alternative to custody. Contact telephone number 01864-502340.

Abbreviations

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