Victim Support Scotland has criticized the lack of communication with victims regarding the early release of 477 prisoners in Scotland. According to the charity, fewer than 20 victims were informed through the victim notification scheme about the offenders in their cases being released early to address prison overcrowding.
Kate Wallace, the chief executive of Victim Support Scotland, expressed disappointment in the lack of proactive communication with victims. She mentioned that victims had to come forward themselves to inquire about the status of the offenders related to their cases. Wallace emphasized that the victim notification scheme had a poor uptake, with many victims not even aware if they were members of the scheme.
The Scottish Government, on the other hand, stated that victims registered with the notification schemes were automatically notified of the early release of prisoners linked to their cases. However, Victim Support Scotland argued that the current scheme is not fit for purpose and requires a significant overhaul to prioritize victim safety.
John Swinney acknowledged that the early release of prisoners did not effectively address the issues of overcrowded jails in Scotland. This short-term solution was deemed unsuccessful, as highlighted by the high rate of reoffending among those released early during the Covid pandemic. Victim Support Scotland urged for a comprehensive review to ensure that victim safety is prioritized in any future decisions regarding prisoner releases.
Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Russell Findlay criticized the SNP government for releasing almost 500 prisoners early without adequately informing victims. He accused the justice secretary of failing to respect victims’ rights and called for more transparency in the process.
In response, a Scottish Government spokesman defended the emergency release as a short-term measure for eligible prisoners close to their scheduled release dates. The government claimed that arrangements were made for victims to access information about the release of prisoners in their cases, although not all victims may have wanted to receive this information. Victim support organizations were also involved in facilitating the communication between victims and the Scottish Prison Service.
Overall, the issue of early prisoner release in Scotland has sparked concerns about victim safety, communication transparency, and the effectiveness of addressing prison overcrowding. It is evident that more comprehensive measures and reforms are needed to ensure that the rights and safety of victims are prioritized in future decision-making processes.
