New figures released this month have shown that 9 out of 15 of Scotland’s prisons are working above their capacity. HMP Barlinnie was operating at 139% capacity along with HMP Inverness.
Another 7 prisons in Scotland were also over capacity including Edinburgh and Perth. The Scottish government’s response is that they are working on preventing people from going to prison in the first place, firstly by abolishing sentences under 12 months.
The justice spokesman for the Scottish Lib Dems has stated: “These new figures show that our prisons are bursting at the seams with the majority now full or overcrowded.People are being packed in like sardines.” The Scottish Government have highlighted that Scotland has the highest rate of incarceration of any other western European country and confirm that urgent change is necessary.
Another 7 prisons in Scotland were also over capacity including Edinburgh and Perth. The Scottish government’s response is that they are working on preventing people from going to prison in the first place, firstly by abolishing sentences under 12 months.
The justice spokesman for the Scottish Lib Dems has stated: “These new figures show that our prisons are bursting at the seams with the majority now full or overcrowded.People are being packed in like sardines.” The Scottish Government have highlighted that Scotland has the highest rate of incarceration of any other western European country and confirm that urgent change is necessary.
