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 (Scotland) is involved in delivering a wide variety of prisoner programmes throughout the SPS. These include induction sessions, individual counselling, parole assessment and employment preparation programmes linked to job opportunities on release. The Training for Work Experience Placements Programme is designed to offer prisoners with the relevant security category and a minimum of 6 months of their sentence remaining, the opportunity to gain relevant training and work experience.

Apex is also involved in training Prison Officers in ‘Counselling Towards Employment’ skills for offenders and ex-offenders which increases Officers familiarity with The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and its application.

On behalf of the SPS, Apex is also developing a core Literacy Programme for prisoners and YOs which uses the motivation of employment to address difficulties and improve skills. This work is currently being piloted in HMP Barlinnie, HMP Low Moss, HMYOI Polmont and HMI Cornton Vale.

Throughout all of its work in prisons, Apex (Scotland) offers every individual prisoner/YO the opportunity to continue their development along with guidance and assistance in employment and training opportunities after release by using the organisation’s staff and offices across Scotland.

Contact telephone number: 0131 220 0130 and 0131 538 7790.

3. EDINBURGH & LOTHIAN COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL

ELCA provides specialist alcohol counselling for offenders in the Lothians who are referred through the Criminal Justice System. Referrals for counselling or parole reports for those with alcohol problems are normally made through the Social Work Unit at HM Prison Edinburgh. Previously, those referred to ELCA’s Counselling Service in Edinburgh Prison had already attended the nine week Alcohol Awareness Course but that course has recently ceased. Prisoners now attend at ELCA’s offices under escort.

Contact telephone number: 0131 225 8888

4. 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 Social Work Managers, one Education Adviser, one life prisoner and one Lawyer. Its network and projects offer the follow:- Family Support; Men's Development; Employment; and Scotland's only Visitors Centre at HMP Perth. Furthermore, a new project has started in Castlemilk offering support to prisoners’ families. 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 Young Offenders 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. The organisation is currently developing a prison visitors scheme in HM Institution Cornton Vale.

Contact telephone number 0141 553 2545.

5. THE HOWARD LEAGUE FOR PENAL REFORM (SCOTLAND) aims to provide policies which reduce poverty and unemployment in society, prevent offending 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.

6. KIDS VIP

KIDS VIP is a national charity which was set up in 1986 to lessen the effects that the imprisonment of a parent has on children, a Scottish Co-ordinator having now been appointed to further the charity’s aims in Scotland. The main focus of the work is to assist prisons to set up supervised play areas for children in visits room and to improve facilities for family visiting. It also runs a newsletter and meetings for play area co-ordinators for mutual information exchange and support. The charity also offers parenting courses for prisoners in an attempt to break the cyclical pattern of crime which can be passed from one generation to the next.

Contact telephone number 0141 339 3428.

7. THE PAROLE BOARD

The Parole Board for Scotland exists under the provisions of the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989 and the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993. The Board's principal functions are to direct and advise the Secretary of State for Scotland on:-

The release on licence and recall from licence of persons serving sentences of imprisonment or detention whose cases he has referred to the Board;

the conditions of such licences and the variation and cancellation of such conditions; and

any other matter so referred which is connected with the release and recall of such persons.

Under Rule 15 (3) of The Parole Board (Scotland) Rules 1993 and Rule 14 (3) of the 1995 Rules, each prisoner whose case has been referred to the Board is entitled to be interviewed by a Board member prior to the case being considered at a meeting of the Board. The members of the Board visit each prison establishment which holds parole eligible prisoners in order to conduct such interviews.

8. PRISON FELLOWSHIP (SCOTLAND)

Prison Fellowship Scotland (PFS) is a Christian, interdenominational, voluntary organisation and a Scottish Registered Charity. PFS is a charter member of Prison Fellowship International which works in 76 countries worldwide. The work in Scotland has been ongoing since 1981 and is overseen by a Board of Trustees of 14 from all walks of life. The organisation has five staff including a full-time director and two regional coordinators; one for the north and east and one for the south and west of Scotland. Approx. 250 volunteers are involved in caring and serving prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families. Each volunteer goes through a training programme. Some of their roles include the following:

• Being part of a PF prayer support group (40 such groups exist throughout Scotland).
• Taking part in in-prison meetings as part of a team.
• Taking/making correspondence course Bible studies.
• Befriending/helping ex-prisoners and their families through weekly drop-in meetings in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee.
• Helping ex-prisoners and their families in practical ways and through occasional outings and presents for prisoners children at Christmas (Angel Tree programme).
• Linking released prisoners with other agencies for accommodation and rehabilitation referrals.

Contact telephone/fax number +44 0141 332 8870.

9. THE PRISON REFORM TRUST

The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) is a campaigning charity which aims to create a just, humane and effective penal system. PRT's work divides into three categories: a wide-ranging research and publications programme; providing advice and information to prisoners, prisoners' families, staff, and the wider public; and taking up issues with Government officials and with Parliamentarians.

Copies of PRT's quarterly magazine Prison Report are sent free to prisoners on request. PRT also runs a Prisoner-Penfriend scheme and an annual essay competition for prisoners.

PRT does not have a separate office in Scotland at present, but regular contact is maintained with all levels in the SPS.

Contact telephone number 0171 251 5070.

10. 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.

11. SALVATION ARMY

The Salvation Army, an international movement, an integral part of the Christian Church. Within the Criminal Justice System, its aims are to provide services to those who are associated with and are affected by it, offering support and practical assistance through a demonstration of Christian care and concern. A network of Salvation Army Visiting Ministers is continuing to be developed for the provision of pastoral visits to prisoners and as a support resource to the work of Prison Chaplains, Social Workers and Family Contact Development Officers. During 1996-97, a total of 88 prisoners received training for freedom in 12 of their centres prior to release. Accommodation was provided for around 102 prisoners in 8 Social Service Centres. Some prisoners also used these centres for their home-leave entitlement while 4 others on release took part in a 15 week programme at the organisation’s Detoxification and Rehabilitation Clinic. The Family Tracing Service was used by a number of prisoners and care and support was offered to families. Transport was provided for some families who would have otherwise been unable to visit their relatives in prison. A number of Salvation Army Bands and Choirs participated in prison services and concerts.

Contact telephone number 0141 779 5000.

12. SAVE THE CHILDREN

The Save the Children Fund (SCF) is an international relief and development organisation committed to advancing children's rights. It promotes improvements in community based services and support for children and young people who offend, advocating retention in the care system up to 18 years and community based alternatives to detention.

The majority of children with a parent in prison experience a range of problems, material and emotional. SCF seeks to work in partnership with others to gather information and promote changes which will further the rights of children with parents in prison, to 'maintain personal relations and direct contact with both parents on a regular basis, except if it is contrary to the child's best interests' (the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989). SCF works closely with the Scottish Forum on Prisons and Families, providing grant aid for research into the experience of children and young people visiting prisons in Scotland and developing a national information service for prisoners’ families.

Contact telephone number 0131 527 8200.

13. SCOTTISH COUNCIL FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES (SCCL)

The Scottish Council for Civil Liberties is a non-political membership organisation which campaigns for the defence and promotion of civil liberties in Scotland. The organisation conducts research, produces publications, raises public awareness and provides information on a wide range of civil liberties issues. SCCL’s work includes monitoring prison conditions and the Scottish criminal justice system. SCCL maintains a library of civil liberties information which is open to the public, Monday-Friday 2.00-5.00 pm.

Contact telephone number 0141 332 5960.

14. THE SCOTTISH FORUM ON PRISONS AND FAMILIES

Imprisonment adversely affects many of the families who become involved in the Criminal Justice System and it is estimated that over 12,500 children in Scotland each year are affected by the imprisonment of a parent.

The Scottish Forum on Prisons and Families is a voluntary inter-agency organisation established in 1990 to address the needs of children, partners and other family members of prisoners. 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 of the Forum comes from SPS, SCF, Sacro, the Justiciary, WRVS, Scottish Drugs Forum, Toybox, Kids VIP, HOPE, Children 1st, Salvation Army, SocialWork, 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. The Forum holds seminars to coordinate the work of prison Family Contact Development Officers and is involved in awareness training work with prison staff and recruits through its Awareness Training Package. This training allows Officers to gain an understanding of the entire visiting experience from the perspective of the prisoners’ family (and the positive effect good family contact can have on the prison regime).

Contact telephone number 0131 527 8200.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.