Letter: End prison cycle

This week's follow-up inspection report on Cornton Vale prison (your report, 15 June) will be of grave concern to all involved with addressing offending among women in Scotland.

With the report calling for an immediate need to reduce the female prison population, the need for community interventions to address women offending has never been greater. If we are to tackle why women offend and how we treat them when they do, we must deliver successful projects and interventions.

It is widely accepted that women typically enter the criminal justice system in a very vulnerable state with issues of abuse, poverty, mental health, substance misuse and addiction particularly common.

By properly addressing the needs of women offenders as well as their deeds, (community justice organisataion] Sacro is confident re-offending rates can be significantly reduced. Early intervention within the community to treat core issues, greater provision of throughcare services and specialised mentoring services for women offenders can have a far greater impact on cutting the cycle of re-offending than imprisonment ever can.

Tom Halpin

Sacro

Albany Street

Edinburgh