On 16 May 2024, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs announced that she would be taking several urgent steps to address Scotland's prison population. This page contains information on those measures.
The Cabinet Secretary advised that several sections of the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Act 2023 would be brought into force. These were:
The Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2024 were laid before the Scottish Parliament on 16 May 2024.
The Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2024
The Early Release of Prisoners and Prescribed Victim Supporters (Scotland) Regulations 2024 were laid before the Scottish Parliament on 29 May 2024.
The Early Release of Prisoners and Prescribed Victim Supporters (Scotland) Regulations 2024
The Committee has received a number of written submissions on the Scottish Government’s plans for the early release of short- and longer-term prisoners.
Criminal Justice Voluntary Sector Forum (286KB, pdf) posted 07 November 2024
COSLA (157KB, pdf) posted 07 November 2024
Families Outside (170KB, pdf) posted 07 November 2024
His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (140KB, pdf) posted 07 November 2024
Police Scotland (96KB, pdf) posted 07 November 2024
Prison Governors Association Scotland (86KB, pdf) posted 21 November 2024
Risk Management Authority (143KB, pdf) posted 07 November 2024
Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research academics (284KB, pdf) posted 07 November 2024
Scottish Prison Service (95KB, pdf) posted 07 November 2024
Scottish Sentencing Council (186KB, pdf) posted 07 November 2024
Social Work Scotland (163KB, pdf) posted 07 November 2024
Victim Support Scotland (190KB, pdf) posted 07 November 2024
Wise Group (152KB, pdf) posted 07 November 2024
The Committee discussed the emergency release of prisoners and other key challenges in Scotland’s prisons at the following Committee meetings:
The Committee has sent and received the following correspondence during the inquiry:
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs to the Convener, 11 June 2024
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs to the Convener, 29 May 2024
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs to the Convener, 16 May 2024