Replace very short term jail sentences with tougher community sentences – Smith

22/2/08

Following the publication of the Scottish Prison Service’s provisional statistics showing that the daily average number of prisoners has increased by 3 per cent, Margaret Smith MSP has, once again, called for very short term prison sentences to be replaced with tougher community sentences.

Commenting, the Edinburgh West MSP said:

“Prisoner numbers just keep on rising.  Before our prisons exceed their maximum capacity, like England and Wales, the Scottish Government must take action. 

“I do not believe the solution is to just to keep on building more prisons.  I believe that very short term prison sentences should be replaced with tougher community sentences where offenders have to work to repay their communities.

“Short term sentences don’t work. 75 per cent of offenders sent to prison for less than six months re-offend within two years, compared with 42 per cent of those given community service. A short prison sentence can mean losing your job, family and home, leading to many people re-offending on release.

“I know that existing community sentences aren’t perfect. It is essential that breaches are taken seriously and dealt with effectively and that community sentences are dispatched swiftly.”