Question reference: S6W-01766
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 22 July 2021
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Current status: Answered by Keith Brown on 10 August 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what changes it has made to temporary release rules from prisons since 5 December 2019, following the consultation with victims of crime.
Answer
As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, temporary restrictions have been introduced within the Scottish Prison Service, where necessary, in line with Scottish Government guidelines and public health advice. This included the temporary suspension of Home Leave between March 2020 and May 2021.
There has been one change in the Prison Rules, in relation to Temporary Release, since 5 December 2019. The Prisoners and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Amendment Rules 2020, which came into force on 7 April 2020, provided Scottish Ministers with the ability to extend the period a prisoner is on home leave for up to 14 days from the normal 7 days. It is anticipated that it could be used where prisoners advise that they or someone in their home has developed symptoms of the Coronavirus and in compliance with government advice they are required to self-isolate.
There have been some minor changes to the Directions made under the Rule 138 (Direction with respect to Temporary Release) since 5 December 2019.