Women's prison unit reopens

Published on Wednesday 14 July 2010 14:17

FEMALE prisoners from the North-east of Scotland are being allowed to complete their sentences at Aberdeen's Craiginches prison for the first time in five years.

The newly refurbished women's unit at the Victorian prison was officially opened yesterday by justice secretary Kenny MacAskill. Women prisoners from the North-east have been serving their entire sentences at Cornton Vale Prison in Stirling - Scotland's only dedicated prison for women - since 2005 when the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) was forced to close the female unit at Craiginches because of overcrowding.

The refurbished "Community Integration Unit" will allow up to eight low-risk female prisoners from the North-east area to prepare for their release from jail. The unit provides a structured programme of opportunities, such as college or family visits, to aid reintegration into the community, aimed at reducing the risk of reoffending.

Mr MacAskill said: "The work done here in the Community Integration Unit is a perfect example of the kind of innovative approach that is needed. Giving women access to local community organisations who provide work and training placements helps give them the skills they need to adjust to life when they are released.

"It also ensures that they are closer to their families, which is especially crucial in the cases of mothers who will be reunited with their children when they are released."

He added: "This approach recognises the complex rehabilitation needs of prisoners and is setting the standard in helping women offenders who are coming towards the end of their sentences to get their lives back on track."

A spokesman for the SPS said: "The ultimate aim is to reduce the risk of re-offending and prepare prisoners for reintegration back into the community."

In May last year Dr Andrew McLellan, the Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland , criticised prison chiefs for operating just one female-only prison in Scotland.