The actual news:
The Scottish Government’s Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill aims to ensure that, apart from in the most serious of cases where people pose a risk to public safety or the delivery of justice in a case, remand is a last resort for the court.
https://www.gov.scot/news/bail-and-release-from-custody-scotland-bill-passed/
That’s clear – no violent prisoners will be considered but Sharon Dowey MSP above, claims it will put public safety at risk.
Has she or, indeed anyone at Con HQ, looked at the research? They probably have but didn’t like it.
Here’s some:
England and Wales have some of the highest incarceration rates in the developed world. Recent policy reforms have focused on developing alternatives to custody that offer credible protection for the public, and justice for victims of crime. This paper uses unique detailed panel-level data acquired from the Ministry of Justice for all Police Force Areas from 2002 to 2013 in England and Wales to analyse the effects of custodial and non-custodial sentences on recorded crime. Our results suggest that non-custodial sentences can be an effective alternative to custody at reducing property crime but their effect is less consistent for violent crime. This suggests that non-custodial sentences are credible, cost-effective substitutes to incarceration.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328492951_Alternatives_to_Custody_Evidence_from_Police_Force_Areas_in_England_and_Wales
There is evidence from studies abroad that community approaches to sentencing can have positive outcomes. In the UK, Ministry of Justice research shows that participation in a group programme can reduce the chances of reconviction for some offenders. An evaluation of adult offenders found that those sentenced to a Community Punishment Order had the lowest reoffending rate (40%) compared with those sentenced to prison (66%). A crude comparison of Community Punishment and/or Rehabilitation Orders and a comparison sample of those who received a lesser sentence (i.e. no supervision from probation services) revealed that those issued with a Community Punishment Order had a lower reconviction rate than those on Community Rehabilitation Orders.
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/post/postpn308.pdf
The analysis … suggests that prison increases reoffending when compared to a range of alternative sentences.
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP12-71/RP12-71.pdf
So, bearing in mind the clear SNP Government caveat about violent offenders, the Scottish Cons once more risk their own mental health by lying to score points.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Of course, she will know what the facts are. However, the Tories have always posed as the party of Lor’n’Oder, and have continually deployed the straw-man of the young violent thug and the need for ‘short, sharp punishment’ such as birching. Despite the fact that the ‘young, violent thug’ trope has always represented a small minority of crime, the Tories and their media chums focus on that to the exclusion of other crime (such as ‘white-collar crime’) and so perpetuate the illusion that the ‘young violent thug’ is the ONLY criminal and that any case for of restorative or rehabilitative justice is ‘being soft on crime’.
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Don’t be so sure that she knows what the facts are, she, in particular, just regurgitates what she is told
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The greatest risk to public safety is listening to Dowey…
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Sharon Dowey MSP – a Tory who puts the ”CON” into Conservative , especially when criticising SNP policies .
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The Courts are backlogged from Covid. Many people on remand in prison, without being found guilty. They should not be there unless there is a risk to others. Innocent until proved guilty. Costing much more in public funding.
2016 Law changed. Police arrest people then investigate, on malicious complaint. The Police should investigate and then charge. Or a caution given for mild misdemeanours. The tail is wagging the dog.
A Domestic Abuse Act that cannot be dropped or appealed. The police are charging abused women and people with additional needs. Not enough recognition of diversity. A meltdown can be misunderstood. Anxiety and insecurity, taken for aggression.
Women who cohabit (the majority) do not have equal rights or get legal aid. They have to stay in abusive situation to keep a roof over their head. They have to put in a claim within a year. It can cost £thousands and take years. The Law has been changed in England so women can get legal aid and not lose their home or a roof over their head. Legal Aid has to be paid back.
Letting agencies illegally charge women six months upfront rent and deposit. Even with good credit.
There are 7,500 men in prison. 200+ women. Many should not be there. Crime is linked to drink/drugs and gender. Much crime is linked to being under the influence of drink/drugs. The drinks in, the wits oot. The offence would not be committed when sober.
Half the people in prison are on the spectrum without proper support. Prison is too noisy and bright. They need more support and diversity in society. The UK has one of the highest prison numbers in Europe.
The Rangers fiasco, the Salmond ‘trial, the campervan carry on, Craig Murray conviction have cost £Billions. That could have been better spent. Malicious complaint by unionists or UK Gov agents taking precedence.
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