| 12. THE PRISON INSPECTORATE’S YEAR
1996-97 Inspections
12.1 Visits during the financial year were completed as
follows (previous year in brackets):-
SPS Establishments
- Five full inspections (4)
- Fifteen short/unannounced inspections (18)
Visits to Other Establishments
- Three Prisons in England - HMP Holloway (Inspector exchange):
HMP Norwich (Thematic Study) HMP Doncaster (Privatisation issues)
- Six Prisons in Massachusetts and Ontario (Auditing procedures
study)
- Pi Zwaag Prison in Holland (Strategic drugs study)
12.2 Seven (6) formal reports (including the Thematic Study
Report and the 1995-96 Annual Report) containing 36(28) Recommendations and 314(182)
Points of Note were distributed during the period. The longest period between signature
and publication of the formal inspection reports was 14 weeks (12), whilst the shortest
was 5 weeks (8).
12.3 All other reports were produced within ten days of
inspection: detail at Annexes 1 and 2.
Thematic Study
12.4 The 1995 Thematic Study into Prison Visits was
published in November 1996, preparation for which included visits to establishments in
England, USA and Canada. Reference to all Scottish prisons and some Scandinavian
establishments was also included.
Communications
12.5
- A SPIN terminal has been installed in the Inspectorate,
enabling database access to all SPS establishments.
- Scottish Office IT equipment (SCOTS) has also been installed.
- A number of formal and thematic reports can now be obtained on
the Internet, though there have been significant delays recently in processing material onto
the web-site. (http://www.open.gov.uk/scotoff/pi.htm)
Staff
12.6 Mrs Kate Donegan was appointed as Deputy Chief
Inspector in April; however, she moved to the Governorship of Cornton Vale at short notice
in September 1996. Her successor is Mr John Durno.
12.7 Guest Inspectors are continuing to attend most formal
and some short inspections. This allows for the development of new perspectives and
management training, whilst also enabling parent establishments better to prepare for
their own subsequent inspections. One Inspector is also on a one year attachment from the
SPS.
12.8 Security, medical and educational advisers are now
included in the Team on a part time basis. Consideration is also being given to no - cost
lay advisers for the coming year; further detail is contained at Annex 3.
Working Practices
12.9 A review of methodology continued via several
processes throughout the year; this included a 10 day visit to Massachusetts to examine
auditing procedures.
12.10 Separately the format for unannounced inspections has
been further amended and extended.
12.11 Exchanges at Chief Inspector, Deputy Chief and
Inspector level are continuing with the English Inspectorate whilst liaison with the
Northern Ireland Prison Service has also been established.
Finance
12.12 The Inspectorate budget for 1996-97 was cash limited
as follows: |
