Cornton Vale: Specialist jail units would cater for different needs

PULLING down Cornton Vale was the most eye-catching recommendation in a wide-ranging document that detailed the conclusions of an eight-month review conducted by the Commission on Women Offenders, chaired by the former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini.

The move being considered by the Scottish Government would see Cornton Vale replaced by a smaller specialist prison for women serving long-term sentences who pose a significant risk to the public, with a separate unit for young women, along with a mother and baby unit.

There would also be the launch of community justice centres – one-stop shops to change offenders’ behaviour.

Procurators fiscal would also be given powers to hand down work orders and impose “composite diversion orders” – unpaid work with rehabilitative elements. Police would have powers to hand out “conditional cautions” that would see women offenders attend community justice centres.

The shake-up recommended by the former Lord Advocate would also allow see the piloting of “problem-solving summary criminal court” for repeat offenders with complex needs.