Prison service chief says judges "too punitive"
31 Oct 05
Chief executive in call for action to cut overcrowding
The chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service has called for immediate action to reduce overcrowding in the country's jails.
Tony Cameron has claimed that judges and sheriffs are becoming "too punitive" and that crimes which would previously have been met with a fine or community disposal are now attracting prison sentences.
Scotland's prison population is now over 7,000 and most prisons are seriously overcrowded. The Chief Inspector of Prisons, Dr Andrew McLellan, has warned that overcrowding is prejudicing attempts to reduce reoffending following release.
Recently First Minister Jack McConnell promised tougher action on sentencing and bail. The Management of Offenders Bill now before the Scottish Parliament contains measures which would result in some offenders being released earlier than at present, but the current rules on automatic early release are also coming under scrutiny.
A Scottish Executive spokesman said that sentencing was a matter for the courts and the Executive's role was to make sure that the widest range of effective sentences was available to them.