Home Detention Curfews: We need proper monitoring to correct severe flaws in system

An independent report for the Scottish Government has found that, between 2006-10, more than one in five prisoners released on Home Detention Curfew were recalled.

The report also states that "there are almost no mechanisms or services in place to support or supervise prisoners."

John Lamont MSP, Scottish Conservative Justice Spokesperson, said:

"The fact that there are no real mechanisms or services to support or supervise the prisoners on Home Detention Curfews is absolutely chilling. Even without these safeguards, over one fifth of those on HDCs are being recalled and that in itself is hugely worrying.

"Sentences are already cut by 50% irrespective of the criminal's conduct in jail. In many cases they are released after 25% of their sentence with a tag. As it stands, someone who now gets 12 months in jail could be strolling out in a matter of weeks. The soft-touch SNP's desire to empty our jails is all too clear to see.

"We have never denied that a tough home detention programme, where a criminal is put to work and rehabilitated, could be an effective component of our justice system. However, this report is just the latest evidence of the severe flaws in the current setup.

"Monitoring prisoners to help with their rehabilitation should be an essential part of the programme. It is not and this is further proof of the soft-touch Scotland we now live in."

Please click on the link below to access the report:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/353589/0119195.pdf

Key findings:

"From July 2006 to March 2010, 7,292 people were released on HDC; 21% of them were recalled, which equates to an average of 34 people per month."

"A primary function of HDC appears to be managing the pressure of high prison populations. The reintegrative aims of HDC may be limited as, aside from the monitoring of the tag itself, there are almost no mechanisms or services in place to support or supervise prisoners."

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