'Surgeries' aim to stop prisoners reoffending

Published on Friday 25 June 2010 19:54

A PIONEERING project aimed at preventing prisoners on short-term sentences landing back in jail has been launched by justice secretary Kenny MacAskill.

The initiative involves prisoners attending special "surgeries" up to eight weeks before their scheduled release, where they are offered help and support from a range of agencies, including housing charity Shelter, local drug and alcohol teams, and staff from employment and training agencies.

The aim is to provide them with short-term accommodation, tackle drug abuse and other health issues, and get them into jobs or training.

Mr MacAskill praised the scheme at yesterday's launch of the project at Perth Concert Hall. He said: "I am grateful for all the work done by all the agencies involved to help short-term prisoners reintegrate more successfully into the communities they come from."

He went on: "We are all aware of the 'revolving door' of prison and the need to tackle reoffending more effectively. Helping with employment, housing and health issues in this innovative initiative illustrates what can be done."

The groundbreaking scheme has been developed to help inmates at Perth Prison in a partnership involving the three local authorities in Tayside, the Tayside Community Justice Authority, NHS Tayside and the Scottish Prison Service.

Mick Stoney, the governor of Perth Prison, stressed the importance of the new scheme. He said: "Every member of the team at HMP Perth welcomes this initiative.

"We see on a daily basis the problems that returning prisoners unprepared to the community can cause.

"This initiative will improve the chances of prisoners returning to their families and communities, staying out of trouble and not returning to custody."