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Short jail terms 'cause problems' Short jail terms 'cause problems'
(about 17 hours later)
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill will be told later of the problems caused for female inmates by short sentences. Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has heard from inmates and prison workers about the "ineffectiveness" of short sentences.
Staff at Cornton Vale, near Stirling, will tell Mr MacAskill that two-thirds of the women in Scotland's main female jail are serving six months or less. Staff at Cornton Vale, near Stirling, told Mr MacAskill that two-thirds of the women in Scotland's main female jail were serving six months or less.
Over the past 10 years 95% of prisoners there were sentenced to four years or less, they will say. In the past 10 years, 95% of inmates there have been given sentences of four years or less.
Research has shown that even short terms in jail can have a devastating effect on family life. Research has shown that even short jail terms can devastate family life.
Research from England shows imprisonment for women causes significant problems. Research from England has found imprisonment for women causes significant problems, including separation from children, unemployment and homelessness.
It says children can be separated and not returned to their mother as soon as she is released. Staff at the jail told Mr MacAskill that they could not offer short-term prisoners the help they needed.
Unemployment and homelessness can also be exacerbated for women leaving prison. During a meeting with inmates and staff, Mr MacAskill asked questions about the impact of prison life and what kind of support the prisoners had received.
Staff said they could not offer short-term prisoners the help they need. 'Trauma continues'
The presentation they will make to the justice secretary will chime with his frequently expressed view that prison is no place for minor offenders - and will give him further ammunition as he seeks to review sentencing policy. Speaking after the meeting, he said: "What we're trying to do is make clear that this is a prison, not a care home.
"Some of these women have committed serious and dangerous offences and have to pay the price for their crime.
"Equally, 64% of the women that are in here are in for a sentence of less than six months."
Mr MacAskill said 95% of the women at the jail had an addiction problem, with 80% suffering from mental health problems and 70% victims of trauma or abuse.
He added: "We need to end the cycle of short sentences, where they're sent here, patched up, kicked back out again and commit the same offence because the underlying mental health, addiction or trauma continues to plague them."
The Scottish Government's criminal justice bill is currently making its way through parliament.
Mr MacAskill said the bill would seek to have a presumption against short sentences.