By Professor John Robertson
An LBC report today either deliberately or stupidly misinterprets the words of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland Wendy Sinclair-Gieben.
Their headline – ‘Crisis point’ prison conditions mean inmates released early ‘pose risk’ to public, watchdog warns
She says:
“Overcrowding is huge and it’s at crisis point. I’m glad we’ve decided on the emergency release but it is a short term fix and we need to do longer.
“We need to recognise overcrowding places the public at greater risk than emergency release. It means people are locked in rooms 22, 23 hours a say.
“They are not getting the rehabilitative measures that the public are entitled to expect.
“That means that when they are released, they’re released angry.
“They are not released in any way rehabilitated”.
https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/crisis-point-prison-conditions-inmates-released-early-risk-public/
I think I read this clearly. When she says: ‘When they are released, they’re released angry‘, by ‘they‘ she does not mean the non-violent violent prisoners being released early but those with a record of violence who are not being released early and who, because of overcrowding, are not being rehabilitated. She worries that, if overcrowding persists, they, the violent ones, will be angry when released.
Think about it, why would the non-violent ones be angry when released early?
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
The media are up to their old fear inducing tactics of generalising from particulars – some prisoners released early might cause further trouble ergo ALL prisoners released early might be violent. So, release none early.
Alasdair Macdonald
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i took it to mean that the non violent prisoners received little or no rehabilitation support while in prison and therefore would be angry (screwed up) even if released early because of the lack of support or counselling or education. Then, without a decent probation service in place this could be a recipe for disaster depending on the crime involved , mental health, substance abuse issues etc or run the risk of reoffending if the cause of offending has not been addressed
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Just thinking out loud so bare with me. Crime in Scotland is half what it used to be, that presumably includes violent crime, but our prisons are over crowded? Scotland favours non custodial sentences, but our prisons are over crowded? To alleviate this over crowding the Scottish SNP baad Government wants to introduce early release, presumably those released will 1) only be for those serving shorter sentences and 2) even though non violent will be assessed for their suitability. I believe early release is only considered where the prisoner has 3 months left to serve and presumably has behaved themselves while in prison. Is it save to assume somebody has an agenda.
Golfnut
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The UK has the highest prison population in the EU. Half should be in total abstinence proper rehab. Now being financed by £250Million over five years. Drug and alcohol addiction are linked to crime. Crime committed under the influence.
Crime is a gender issue. Mainly crime is committed by males. Especially young men commit violent crime.
People who stole a phone years ago should not be in prison. Unlimited sentences. A scandal.
Half are on the spectrum, without the proper support or diagnosis. People who are neurodiverse. Autistic, ADHD, PDA. More people are being diagnosed and being helped. Over the last ten years. There should be more knowledge about diversity.
Women who co habit, the majority, should be given equal rights and legal aid. To stop abuse.
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Not sure half are on ‘the spectrum’. People with autism and learning disability are the least likely to commit any sort of crime, they tend to be very honest in fact. However, and it’s likely more historic, when vulnerable people are neglected by society they would be more likely to be coerced or driven to some sort of crime in order to survive. Poverty and disenfranchisement are factors most prominent in crimes being committed by people no doubt. Prison should be a last resort, not the first option as it seems is happening.
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