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| Fewer jailed in sentencing revamp | Fewer jailed in sentencing revamp |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| The Scottish Government has announced it wants to cut the prison population by sentencing more minor offenders to community service or probation orders. | |
| Levels of reoffending among those jailed for less than six months are almost double the rate for those given non-custodial sentences. | Levels of reoffending among those jailed for less than six months are almost double the rate for those given non-custodial sentences. |
| It is hoped that emptying prisons of minor offenders will allow staff to do better work with serious criminals. | It is hoped that emptying prisons of minor offenders will allow staff to do better work with serious criminals. |
| But minor offenders will still pay for their crimes, the government said. | But minor offenders will still pay for their crimes, the government said. |
| The announcement is to be made by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill later on Tuesday. | The announcement is to be made by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill later on Tuesday. |
| Mr MacAskill hopes the move will reduce reoffending by ending the cycle of prisoners being released from short jail sentences before being locked up again for another minor crime while offering no restitution to the community. | Mr MacAskill hopes the move will reduce reoffending by ending the cycle of prisoners being released from short jail sentences before being locked up again for another minor crime while offering no restitution to the community. |
| I want to see community penalties which are high quality, effective, immediate, visible, flexible and relevant Kenny MacAskillJustice secretary | I want to see community penalties which are high quality, effective, immediate, visible, flexible and relevant Kenny MacAskillJustice secretary |
| About 70% of those jailed receive sentences of six months or less - but 75% of them reoffend within two years. | About 70% of those jailed receive sentences of six months or less - but 75% of them reoffend within two years. |
| In comparison, 39% of offenders receiving community sentences offend again. | In comparison, 39% of offenders receiving community sentences offend again. |
| Mr MacAskill believes community sentences must be tougher to improve public confidence in them. He is likely to do this by allowing local people to be consulted on the type of work offenders carry out in their area. | Mr MacAskill believes community sentences must be tougher to improve public confidence in them. He is likely to do this by allowing local people to be consulted on the type of work offenders carry out in their area. |
| He hopes that reducing the number of people given short custodial sentences will reduce both crime and reoffending rates. | He hopes that reducing the number of people given short custodial sentences will reduce both crime and reoffending rates. |
| Mr MacAskill said: "We cannot sustain a regime where 70% of sentenced offenders admitted to prison each year - some 14,000 receptions - are offenders getting sentences of six months or less. | Mr MacAskill said: "We cannot sustain a regime where 70% of sentenced offenders admitted to prison each year - some 14,000 receptions - are offenders getting sentences of six months or less. |
| "Not 14,000 separate individuals but the same offenders caught in the seemingly endless cycle of reoffending. That is not the way forward for a modern, dynamic country. | "Not 14,000 separate individuals but the same offenders caught in the seemingly endless cycle of reoffending. That is not the way forward for a modern, dynamic country. |
| "The prison service's ability to work with serious offenders to reduce their risk is being compromised by having to deal with the churn created by large numbers of short sentences." | "The prison service's ability to work with serious offenders to reduce their risk is being compromised by having to deal with the churn created by large numbers of short sentences." |
| Electronic tagging | Electronic tagging |
| The justice secretary said it was time to get "more sophisticated" about crime and punishment than simply looking at what is regarded as being "tough" and "soft", and instead look at what measures are successful in cutting crime. | The justice secretary said it was time to get "more sophisticated" about crime and punishment than simply looking at what is regarded as being "tough" and "soft", and instead look at what measures are successful in cutting crime. |
| "A short custodial sentence for a minor offence, giving the offender no opportunity to pay something back for the wrong they have done, is not a smart sentence. Minor offenders should have to right their wrongs by doing something for the community," he added. | "A short custodial sentence for a minor offence, giving the offender no opportunity to pay something back for the wrong they have done, is not a smart sentence. Minor offenders should have to right their wrongs by doing something for the community," he added. |
| "I want to see community penalties which are high quality, effective, immediate, visible, flexible and relevant. Penalties that provide constructive payback that really benefits local communities, not punishing them again through the expense of short prison sentences that fail to rehabilitate." | "I want to see community penalties which are high quality, effective, immediate, visible, flexible and relevant. Penalties that provide constructive payback that really benefits local communities, not punishing them again through the expense of short prison sentences that fail to rehabilitate." |
| The main community penalties in Scotland are community service and probation. Other options include restriction of liberty orders (electronic tagging) and drug treatment and testing. | The main community penalties in Scotland are community service and probation. Other options include restriction of liberty orders (electronic tagging) and drug treatment and testing. |
| Their use by the courts has increased in recent years, but Scotland still has a relatively high rate of imprisonment, at 141 per 100,000 population, compared to 66 in Norway, 70 in Denmark but 754 in the US. In England, the rate is 144 per 100,000. | Their use by the courts has increased in recent years, but Scotland still has a relatively high rate of imprisonment, at 141 per 100,000 population, compared to 66 in Norway, 70 in Denmark but 754 in the US. In England, the rate is 144 per 100,000. |