One way the scottish government hopes to reduce the numbers in the coming weeks is to increase the number of people released on home detention curfew hdc, which involves electronic tagging and a. Its decision making and operating are independent of the scottish government, and many of its decisions are binding on scottish. House arrest is an alternative to being in a prison while awaiting trial or after sentencing. To ask the scottish government what its position is on any issues arising from increases in the number of professional dog walkers. At any given time, around 300 prisoners are on home detention curfew hdc, which means they are living at home adhering to a curfew and wearing an electronic monitor. There are currently two mechanisms available for early release in scotland home detention curfew which is almost always used for. Snp urged to stand up for victims of crime as tories push for. Scottish government commits to improving management of. This briefing summarises the main issues which arose during stages 1 and 2. Mr yousaf said that home detention curfew is an established mechanism for preparing prisoners for release.
Electronic tags to free inmates by alan travis, home affairs. A fifth of tagged offenders breached a home detention curfew last year, figures from the scottish prison service have revealed. The committee has considered the following instrument home detention curfew licence amendment scotland order 2016 draft 2. Home detention curfew hdc came into use in scotland in 2006 and allows prisoners, mainly on shorter. Home detention curfews hdcs were introduced in scotland in 2006 for prisoners. I am pleased to deputise once again for bruce crawfordon behalf of the bureau rather than the government, i hasten to addin moving the motion on the home detention curfew licence prescribed standard conditions scotland order 2008, which is a negative instrument for the benefit of members, i will clarify the procedure.
Families outside produces information sheets to help you, and if your family member is being considered for home detention curfew a tag, it may be useful to have some further facts about this. The home detention curfew licence amendment scotland order 2016 made th december 2016 coming into force 14th december 2016 the scottish ministers make the following order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3aa6 of the prisoners and criminal proceedings scotland act 1993a and all other powers. Please note the risk management authority offices are now closed until further notice. Review of the arrangements for home detention curfew hmips. Despite the scottish government s emphasis on smart. The scottish prison service has terms and conditions which cover the following categories. Justice secretary responds to home detention curfew reports.
Scottish prison service and the service is completely confidential. To ask the scottish government for what reason independent inquiries are not automatically held when a murder is committed by a prisoner on a home detention curfew. Create an account increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about sign in. The scheme is used for prisoners who are sentenced to terms greater than three months. Sep, 20 detention service order guidance about how uk visas and immigration decides to apply the home detention curfew hdc scheme to foreign offenders. Home detention with electronic monitoring the new zealand. She confirmed that life prisoners, sexual and violent offenders serving an extended sentence under section 210a of the criminal procedure scotland act. House arrest has been used since ancient times as an alternative to criminal imprisonment, often imposed upon people who either were too powerful or too influential to be placed in an actual prison. The board also operates as the appellate body in the case of alleged breaches of home detention curfew hdc conditions. Home detention curfew licence amendment scotland order 2016. Police scotland should also establish a robust process in each local policing area so that all enquiries by officers and police staff are accurately recorded in a clear and appropriately manner, it added. Jun, 2012 half of all tagged offenders break curfew rules, says report. Scotland s independent penal reform organisation has written to justice secretary humza yousaf calling for the executive release of some prisoners and the expansion of home detention curfew, to. The home detention curfew licence prescribed standard.
They always speak to social workers and carry out a risk assessment first. Figure 6 home detention curfew completions, revocations and expiries % by. Electronic tag crackdown after murder in paisley heart scotland. The parole board for scotland must first recommend release on parole before sps can make the decision to. Confinement to ones home or another specified location instead of incarceration in a jail or prison. Electronic monitoring in scotland the use of electronic monitoring.
The parole board for scotland must first recommend release on. Prior to the offence, mr wright had been released from prison on a home detention curfew. Scottish government in consultation with criminal justice partners and key stakeholders should consider development of national policy on risk factors that assess not only the eligibility of an offender for release on home detention curfew but hisher suitability for release based on a presumption of refusal where the conviction that the person. R uth davidson has said it is unacceptable that nicola sturgeon does not know how many violent crime are committed each year by prisoners freed on home detention curfew the scottish. Home detention curfew hdc came into use in scotland in 2006 and allows prisoners, mainly on shorter sentences, to serve up to a quarter of their sentence. The effect of home detention curfew on recidivism gov. Detainees, as they are called, are released to their homes, and monitored by means of an electronic bracelet attached to their ankle. The scottish prison service decides if a prisoner can be released on home detention curfew. Home detention curfew hdc allows some individuals sentenced to imprisonment to serve part of their prison sentence in the community, under strict licence. The board makes a binding recommendation to the scottish ministers on any additional conditions to be attached to release licences.
The home detention curfew scheme hdc was implemented under the management of offenders etc scotland act 2005 s15 and allows prisoners to be released early under home detention also known as tagging. I have also made a number of wider recommendations relating to policy on risk assessment of those considered eligible for release under home detention curfew, changes to legislation, and cross border provisions, which should be taken forward by the scottish government in partnership with police scotland, the scottish prison service and other. Stage 1 report on the management of offenders scotland bill. To provide relevant and reliable information, analysis and advice that meet the needs of government, business and the people of scotland. He said the scottish government, scottish prison service and police scotland all accept all 37 recommendations made by hm inspectorate of prisons. The scottish prison service sps must work within the law when it releases prisoners on hdc. Detailed scottish government plans for nodeal brexit. Home detention with electronic monitoring was introduced in new zealand in october 1999. Out of 1,434 prisoners released granted release from prison and tagged in 201718, 300 were in breach of a home detention order 21 per cent of. Our sympathies very much remain with the family and friends of craig mcclelland at this time. The home detention curfew licence amendment scotland order 2016.
It contained sixteen recommendations covering operational processes and the strategic direction and national guidance on the future management of offenders in scotland. A copy of all correspondence between the scottish government and the scottish prison service and police scotland about the issue of home detention curfews in the period from 1 april 2017 to 17 july 2018. May 06, 2011 a report examining whether offenders who receive home detention curfew. It is an early release option for people sentenced to varying lengths of imprisonment. Justice and safety justice and safety page 2 of 18.
The cabinet secretary will take questions at the end of his statement, so there should be no interventions or interruptions. Mar 17, 2002 this system is crazy, we are letting convicted criminals out to cause mayhem. On november 2018, the cabinet secretary for justice wrote. There are more than 300 prisoners on home detention curfew. Find more information on home detention curfew and how it works on the scottish prison service website. I believe that the actions that the scottish government, scottish prison service and police scotland have all committed to today will provide confidence that. Changes to this guidance this page tells you what has changed since the previous version of this guidance. Action is underway to improve the management of prisoners serving the end of their custodial sentence at home, justice secretary humza yousaf has said. One of the conditions for being released on home detention curfew is that offenders must stay at an agreed address for about 12 hours every. Home detention curfew is a detention scheme in the united kingdom whereby certain shortterm criminals are released from prison several weeks to months before the completion of their sentence to allow them to integrate back into society. Electronic tags to free inmates uk news the guardian.
Home detention curfew hdc a person you may care about is in prison and serving a sentence and you may be unsure of some of the procedures. Addressing the justice committee at holyrood, mr mcconnell alluded to the murder of craig mcclelland, a father of three from paisley who was stabbed by james wight, who had 16 previous convictions and was unlawfully at large after removing an electronic tag just days after release on a home detention curfew. Scotland act 2005 provides the power to release prisoners on hdc in scotland. They are only allowed to release low risk offenders on the hdc. The instrument was referred to the justice committee as lead committee and was. From 18 march 2008, the scottish prison service sps can release some prisoners to serve the last part of their sentence at home, or another suitable address, for up to a maximum period of 6 months which applies to sentences of more than 2 years. The scottish government is proposing a radical extension of the ways electronic tags can be used on offenders, bbc scotland learns. Prisoners must not be released on home detention curfew in advance of their. In addition to the presumption against home detention curfews for. Mr yousaf revealed earlier this month that more inmates would be let out early on home detention curfew. This week saw a committment from the scottish government to establish a financial redress scheme for incare abuse survivors, plans to strengthen the home detention curfew system and the launch of a new play highlighting to young people the. University of strathclyde, scottish government justice analytical services staff and.
Prison staff reluctant to release prisoners on tags. Evaluating the effectiveness of home detention curfew and open prison in scotland. Scottish government scottish parliament the bbc is not responsible for the content of external internet sites. Home office research study 222 electronic monitoring of released prisoners. The parliamentary bureau has agreed to set aside an hour for. The parole board for scotland is a tribunal nondepartmental public body in scotland first established in 1967, with responsibility for parole decisions.
In addition, prisoners sentenced to less than four years can now be released early on home detention curfew. He was stabbed to death in july 2017 by james wright, who was at the time unlawfully at large while on home detention curfew. Jul 17, 2018 the number of home detention curfew breaches is rising, according to new figures. Home detention curfew allows people with convictions to serve part of their sentence in the community while wearing an electronic tag. Edinburgh research explorer connecting repositories. If you wish to contact the risk management authority, please phone 0141 278 4478 where all calls will be diverted directly to voicemail. Hmics independent assessment of police scotlands response.
Scottish government social research, edinburgh, uk. Home detention curfew is an established mechanism for preparing prisoners for release. Four offenders released on home detention curfew are unlawfully at large a report by hm inspectorate of constabulary scotland revealed. It is not available to all prisoners and is not an entitlement. Proposals to increase use of electronic tags in scotland. All content is available under the open government licence v3. Scotland s reoffending rate is at a 19 year low and. Draft order laid before the scottish parliament under section 453 of the prisoners and criminal proceedings scotland act 1993 for approval by resolution of the scottish parliament. If someone is released under a home detention curfew there are licensed conditions, so theres still some element of control. Put more prisoners out on tag says prisons chief the scotsman. It prepares prisoners for release, reintegrates them into the community and reduces the risk of them reoffending. Sps and the chief constable, that i expect to see real and demonstrable progress. Jul 19, 2018 snp urged to stand up for victims of crime as tories push for change justice secretary humza yousaf has said he will keep an open mind over demands to allow victims of crime to attend parole.
Hmics hmics independent assessment of police scotlands. Tagging for violent and knife crime convicts curbed. Howard league scotland calls for release of lowrisk prisoners. Evaluation of the use of home detention curfew and the open prison estate in scotland citation for published version.
At any one time there are around 300 people under these arrangements in our communities and the vast majority of those are completed successfully without any breaches. Use of electronic tags to be extended bbc news bbc home. Home detention curfew guidance for agencies updated to april 2018 provides guidance on the procedure to be followed where the grant of an hdc licence is being considered. Evaluating the effectiveness of home detention curfew. Justice committee home detention curfew licence amendment scotland order 2016, 7th report, 2016 session 5 2 7. The instrument was referred to the justice committee as lead committee and was subject to affirmative procedure.
Home detention curfew hdc is a way in which the scottish prison service sps, on behalf of scottish ministers, can release individuals sentenced to short and longterm prison sentences on hdc licence. In the wake of mr mcclellands murder tougher restrictions were brought in on the use of curfews, with the scottish government introducing a presumption against their use for violent offenders and those convicted of knife crimes. Msps have voted narrowly in favour of extending the time prisoners can spend on home detention curfews hdc. Home detention curfew is an important part of our justice system. Amendment of section 3aa5 of the prisoners and criminal proceedings scotland act 1993. A fifth of tagged offenders breach home detention curfews. Fiscal service copfs, scottish government and the scottish court and tribunal service, are dealt with effectively and efficiently and in accordance with the protocol for the prioritisation of warrants in the scottish criminal justice system. Home detention curfew allows people with convictions to serve part of their sentence in the community whilst wearing an electronic tag. Link to publication record in edinburgh research explorer. In its 2018 report, hmics noted there were approximately 300 criminals out on home detention curfew at any given time. Let me be clear, just as the uk government has looked at releasing prisoners or increasing the numbers on hdc home detention curfew, so too in scotland we cannot rule out releasing prisoners. Scots home detention curfew breaches rise heart scotland. Home detention curfew licence amendment scotland order 2016, 7th report, 2016 session 5 1 introduction 1.
Bbc news uk scotland vote to extend tagging is passed. Where sps elect to utilise a collaborative framework contract set up by another public body such as the scottish government, or crown. The management of offenders scotland bill will be considered at stage 3 on 25 june 2019. Four prisoners released from jail with electronic tag. Four offenders released from jail on electronic tag. The home office spokeswoman said that by november 30, 2001, only 893 of the 42,853 prisoners released under the scheme had been convicted or cautioned or were awaiting prosecution in relation to offences committed while subject to home detention curfew. On 3 may 2018, james wright was convicted of murdering craig mcclelland in paisley. The risk management authority is operating business as usual with all staff currently working from home. The scottish government is making detailed preparations for the uk leaving the eu without a deal, brexit secretary mike russell tells msps. I have made it clear to them that the scottish government will, of course, do likewise. Around one in five 18% offenders on the curfews, which allow prisoners to serve part of their sentence on.
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