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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Booth hails Scottish penal reform | Booth hails Scottish penal reform |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Cherie Booth QC has singled out aspects of Scotland's prison system for praise in a report produced by the Commission on English Prisons. | Cherie Booth QC has singled out aspects of Scotland's prison system for praise in a report produced by the Commission on English Prisons. |
| She chaired the commission behind the report, which called for some English jails to be closed and the number of inmates to be reduced. | She chaired the commission behind the report, which called for some English jails to be closed and the number of inmates to be reduced. |
| The wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair hailed Scottish penal philosophy and the use of community sentences. | The wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair hailed Scottish penal philosophy and the use of community sentences. |
| Ms Booth's comments have been welcomed by the Scottish Government. | Ms Booth's comments have been welcomed by the Scottish Government. |
| The commission report praises the "courageous lead" taken by Scotland in taking "serious steps to address its prison crisis". | The commission report praises the "courageous lead" taken by Scotland in taking "serious steps to address its prison crisis". |
| 'Hope and pride' | |
| The report states: "In convening the Scottish Prisons Commission the Scottish government sought radical and innovative ways in which to improve public safety. | The report states: "In convening the Scottish Prisons Commission the Scottish government sought radical and innovative ways in which to improve public safety. |
| "The Scottish Commission envisaged a future in which Scotland would be a beacon of change - of lower prison populations, safer communities, effective programmes and successful community-based sentences evidenced by low re-conviction rates, all of which would encourage hope and pride in the local communities." | "The Scottish Commission envisaged a future in which Scotland would be a beacon of change - of lower prison populations, safer communities, effective programmes and successful community-based sentences evidenced by low re-conviction rates, all of which would encourage hope and pride in the local communities." |
| Community sentences are being used to cut inmate numbers | Community sentences are being used to cut inmate numbers |
| Ms Booth said Scotland has made explicit the connections between penal policy, the prison population and national well being. | Ms Booth said Scotland has made explicit the connections between penal policy, the prison population and national well being. |
| She said: "Crucially, more widespread use of effective community sentences would both allow us to reduce the use of prison and allow for reinvestment of resources into local communities to cut offending." | She said: "Crucially, more widespread use of effective community sentences would both allow us to reduce the use of prison and allow for reinvestment of resources into local communities to cut offending." |
| Welcoming the report SNP MSP Angela Constance said: "Short prison sentences have been shown to do more harm than good to the communities affected by crime and the prisoners being sentenced. | Welcoming the report SNP MSP Angela Constance said: "Short prison sentences have been shown to do more harm than good to the communities affected by crime and the prisoners being sentenced. |
| "Cherie Booth's report, backing up that of Henry McLeish makes clear that short sentences do not improve safety in the long run or reduce reoffending. | "Cherie Booth's report, backing up that of Henry McLeish makes clear that short sentences do not improve safety in the long run or reduce reoffending. |
| 'Considerable challenges' | |
| "Prison overcrowding is making prisons a dumping ground for problems society and politicians do not want to address." | "Prison overcrowding is making prisons a dumping ground for problems society and politicians do not want to address." |
| However, Ms Booth warmed that "despite these lofty goals the Scottish rate of imprisonment continues to rise". | |
| The Scottish Commission set the Scottish Government the goal of reducing the prison population by almost 40% - from 8,000 to 5,000. | |
| Ms Booth said: "The Scottish government thus faces considerable obstacles as it attempts to shift its approach to punishment." | |
| She added: "A strong and radically articulated penal philosophy emanating from south of the border will only strengthen Scotland's efforts in pursuing its own brand of penal moderation." |