Scotland’s prison population is high. It has grown steadily over a number of years and represents one of the highest in northern Europe. This is not desirable for prisoners or for the nation as a whole, both socially and economically. The majority of Scotland’s prison population comprises offenders serving short term sentences. A substantial proportion of those who serve short term prison sentences will reoffend. A significant proportion of prisoners have previously served custodial sentences. The prison population comes largely from the most deprived and troubled sections of our society. Much improvement is needed, but it is difficult to achieve rapid substantial societal change. The Government’s initiatives to reduce the short term prison population in favour of community sentences are to be welcomed. They represent a shift in approach to the use of imprisonment. Time (and patience) is what is needed for these policies to be allowed to work. The low prison populations of Scandinavia, to which we should surely aspire, have been achieved over years of sustained and concerted policies, with imprisonment being reserved only for the most serious offences or offenders. The policies will require adjustment and response over time but, in essence, they should be sustained and maintained. That is what I meant with my reference to penological post-modernism. Lord Carloway Lord Justice General 15 March 2016
Scotland’s prison population is high. It has grown steadily over a number of years and represents one of the highest in northern Europe. This is not desirable for prisoners or for the nation as a whole, both socially and economically. The majority of Scotland’s prison population comprises offenders serving short term sentences. A substantial proportion of those who serve short term prison sentences will reoffend. A significant proportion of prisoners have previously served custodial sentences. The prison population comes largely from the most deprived and troubled sections of our society. Much improvement is needed, but it is difficult to achieve rapid substantial societal change. The Government’s initiatives to reduce the short term prison population in favour of community sentences are to be welcomed. They represent a shift in approach to the use of imprisonment. Time (and patience) is what is needed for these policies to be allowed to work. The low prison populations of Scandinavia, to which we should surely aspire, have been achieved over years of sustained and concerted policies, with imprisonment being reserved only for the most serious offences or offenders. The policies will require adjustment and response over time but, in essence, they should be sustained and maintained. That is what I meant with my reference to penological post-modernism. Lord Carloway Lord Justice General 15 March 2016