HowardLeagueScotland
@howardleague_sc
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Scotland's leading independent penal reform organisation. Promoting just responses to the causes and consequences of crime.
Scotland
Joined October 2011
We very much look forward to hearing what the Sentencing and Penal Reform Commission recommends later this year, because these short-term actions (whilst currently unavoidable) are clearly not the answer to this issue.
Yesterday the Scottish Parliament voted to support the Emergency Early Release of short-term prisoners, in response to the record-high prison population. Releases will begin on 11 November, and continue in stages until April 2026.
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📣 Friday Fact! There are a wide range of factors or circumstances that judges can consider when deciding a sentence. Previous convictions are an aggravating factor and can make a sentence more severe. To find out more, watch our video 👉 https://t.co/0iopnyxhY3
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The Governor of HMP Glenochil correctly makes the oft forgotten link between our unsustainably high prison population & potentially less safe communities: "overcrowding is hampering efforts to rehabilitate prisoners, & that in turn affects wider society". https://t.co/E4NvTb6X4t
bbc.co.uk
When the chief inspector of Scotland's prisons visited Glenochil in February, the 668-capacity jail was holding 770 inmates.
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📢 Our annual Drummond Hunter Lecture couldn't be better timed: Sara Snell @hmips Chief Inspector will be discussing how we move 'Towards Humane Prisons' at 6.30pm on Tuesday 25 November @UoELawSchool. Tickets available ➡️ https://t.co/AUlwXO1uou
https://t.co/DqxxwNpAzI
bbc.co.uk
Both the Scottish Prison Service and the Scottish government said action was now needed.
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The Council has published a response to its public consultation on draft sentencing guidelines for rape offences. The public consultation is a significant part of the guideline development process, gathering views from a range of people. Full report 👉 https://t.co/10pi9SzGZ5
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There's no pleasure at all at having predicted this. Just a deep disappointment in acknowledging that we had a choice. https://t.co/DqxxwNpAzI
bbc.co.uk
Both the Scottish Prison Service and the Scottish government said action was now needed.
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JOB #Vacancy: Chairperson of the Parole Board for Scotland. 'The Parole Board... plays a vital role in the criminal justice system by determining which prisoners can serve the remainder of their sentence in the community, on licence and under supervision' https://t.co/LfvE9ygHzf
scottishlegal.com
Find the latest legal vacancies in Scotland for solicitors, advocates and other legal professionals on the Scottish Legal News website.
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📢 BIG NEWS! Sara Snell, Chief Inspector of Prisons @hmipscot will be the keynote speaker, talking about 'Towards Humane Prisons' at our annual Drummond Hunter Lecture on 25 November. Tickets here: https://t.co/AUlwXO0WyW. Please spread the word!
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ICYMI we released our latest blog on supporting rehabilitation through the power of the outdoors. Written by Jenny Paterson, CEO of Venture Trust, the blog discusses the important work her organisation is doing to support long-term change. Read now 👉 https://t.co/nyrbORoMnG
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Emergency releases weren’t the answer on all of the previous occasions. They’re not now either, but yet again it appears that there is no alternative. Why oh why oh why?
bbc.co.uk
Angela Constance has asked parliament to pass emergency legislation for the release of 470 inmates
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Allan Marshall died unlawfully in the care of @scottishprisons. Excessive & unnecessary force had been used to restrain him, but crucially (and less reported): the FAI found that prison officers and senior prison staff were not truthful in their evidence.
bbc.co.uk
Allan Marshall died four days after being restrained by prison officers at HMP Edinburgh in March 2015.
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On Friday, the number in Scottish Prisons was the highest ever. Previously there was a lot of debate about early release and the need to address overcrowding but currently the silence, from all parties, is overwhelming...this needs discussion, action and reversed.
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The human rights of all prisoners must be respected. Despite assurances to the contrary, questions remain as to whether the sentences of OLR prisoners are being managed properly.
bbc.co.uk
Concerns have been raised about how orders for lifelong restriction are being implemented in Scotland.
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This is (sadly) not a surprise at all to anyone involved in criminal justice in Scotland.
bbc.co.uk
More than 300 inmates were freed from Scotland's jails in February and March to free up space.
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On Wed 3/9 we’ll take oral evidence into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons. Well hear from @NHSScotland ADP, @SacroScotland, @ScotFamADrugs, @wisegroup_se, National Prison Care Network, @SHAAPAlcohol & @DrCConnell. See our papers https://t.co/UB9iYznUzn
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CURRENT SCOTTISH PRISON POPULATION @ 29/08/2025 - 8,315 people. It is the third highest weekly total since April 2014. It's up 33 people since last week. Only 35 more to tie with the highest ever...when does Parliament get back? Oh tomorrow...but will they do anything about this?
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"A key concern for the SHRC ... is that a flawed complaints system in prisons makes it extremely difficult to identify and investigate serious human rights breaches and to make systemic change needed to make Scotland’s prisons safer for those who live and work there."
📢 We're calling on the Scottish Government to urgently review and reform the prison complaints system. Short on time? ⏱ Read the Exec Summary Want to know more? 💡Read the full report. https://t.co/X60HqMEnkQ
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Today, 28 Aug, we have published the written submissions we have received during our call for views on our inquiry into tackling harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish prisons. Other submissions may follow. You can read the submissions here: https://t.co/ZEsKSU3J3F
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We can sometimes be quite critical of @scottishprisons use of the phrase “complex population”, but this includes some good explanations of how difficult things are to manage when the overall prison population is so high.
bbc.com
Hundreds of gang members are being held in Scotland's jails, where violent incidents are on the increase.
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👏Children should never be punished for their parents' actions.
An award-winning initiative at HMP Barlinnie is helping fathers in prison better understand and support their autistic children ➡
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