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Executive Initiatives

The number of women in prison is still rising despite the efforts of the Executive. It rose from 141 in 1991 to 249 in 2001. However, there has also been a proportionate increase in the use of probation and community service for women, particularly since the middle of the last decade. This shows that sentencers are increasingly turning to non-custodial sentences to deal with female offenders when it is appropriate.

In response to the kind of messages emerging from reports such as 'A Safer Way' and 'A Better Way' (see Introduction to this section) the Executive is pursuing a number of initiatives to provide community alternatives for the courts.

  • The Executive has provided funding bail information and supervision schemes across the country so that women need not be remanded to custody.
  • The Executive has also provided a bail retrieval system for Cornton Vale which provides a second chance for a woman remanded in custody to be released on bail under supervision.
  • The Criminal Justice(Scotland) Act 2003 provides funding powers for arrest referral schemes. It also provides for structured deferred sentences, increasing sentencing options available to the courts
  • Female offenders are one of the key target groups for Diversion from Prosecution schemes. Such schemes divert individuals into social work services to address offending behaviour and chaotic lifestyles where prosecution would not be in the public interest. Many women commit only minor offences and will be dealt with through such schemes.
  • In order to combat the problem of female fine defaulters being sent to custody we have taken a power in the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 that will mean fine defaulters will have to be put on a Supervised Attendance Order rather than being sent to custody. (This is being piloted in two courts initially).
  • With partner agencies we have developed the 'Time Out' Centre based in Glasgow: it combines a residential unit and day centre for women in the criminal justice system. It has also taken over the work of the former Turnaround project, which provided access for drug misusing women offenders at all stages in the criminal justice process from arrest to release from prison.

In addition to these initiatives the Executive is currently undertaking work to develop and accredit specialised community programmes for Female Offenders. The belief is that programmes designed and tailored especially for women offenders will have a much greater impact and effect on female offenders than the more generic standard programmes currently available.

Page updated: Tuesday, September 7, 2004