Scotland’s prison population has hit ‘unprecedented’ levels. That’s not my word, but the word used by the Scottish Government when it announced that it would be releasing hundreds of prisoners early as part of an emergency response to overcrowding.
It isn’t always an easy topic to discuss, but if ever there was a time to speak about the need to reform Scotland’s justice system, it is now.
England, too, is facing huge pressure in the justice system with the new Labour administration appointing James Timpson as prisons minister, a sign of how seriously this is being taken.
Scotland’s prison population currently sits at around 8,000. The early release of some prisoners has already started in a bid to alleviate pressure on the system. But while this will, of course, help in the short-term, it will do little to solve the larger issues.
Instead of continually seeking out short-term solutions, what we need to do is build a justice system for the future that prevents such problems arising again, at the same time as we fund and deal with the present issue.
This won’t be easy, but it is necessary.
It begins with recognising that the justice system does not stand on its own. We can’t just look to address the challenges within it, without realising the impact of other policy areas, including housing, health and education.
At the Wise Group we don’t just work in justice. We support families across Scotland with the cost-of-living crisis, energy bills and housing.
This allows us to tailor our New Routes programme to fit the needs of those we support.
Every person who works with us is different. The reasons they went to prison in the first place are individual to them, as are the needs they have when they come out.
Our wider justice system should reflect this. Leaving prison isn’t the end of someone’s punishment, the consequences of serving a custodial sentence are wide-ranging.
Difficulties can be found in rejoining families, finding housing and trying to re-enter the employment market.
Therefore, one of the best things we can provide is stability. Our relational mentors work with individuals to help them reintegrate into society – but providing a stable presence is sometimes the most important thing we can do.
And it’s something our wider justice system should look to do.
One of the most challenging parts of reform will be selling such ideas to the public.
While making changes, we must show people the benefits of a justice system that works for everyone – not just those involved with it. No one wants to be a victim of crime, and the way to ensure that is to cut offending. To do that, we can cut reoffending, but we can also look to stop people carrying out the initial offence too.
This means addressing those areas I spoke about – housing, education and health care.
As I said, none of this is easy and it will take a lot of work. But we no longer have a choice. And the time is now.
Hamish Robertson is Strategic Development Lead at The Wise Group. Hamish was also one of the panellists at our recent event – Crowded Cells, Empty Futures: Why we must tackle Scotland’s growing prison population.