It is a report that could change the way the public views the "open prison estate". The term itself is something of a misnomer. Even those who have visited Scotland's open prisons may struggle to understand how they incorporate incarceration with freedom of movement.

It is a report that could change the way the public views the "open prison estate". The term itself is something of a misnomer and even those who have visited Scotland's open prisons would be forgiven for failing to understand how such establishments incorporate incarceration with freedom of movement.

The document, commissioned after violent criminal Brian Martin went on the run from Castle Huntly last month, seems all the more remarkable in that it comes just a year after a similar review into the absconding of Robert Foye, who raped a schoolgirl after going on the run from Castle Huntly in 2007.

The Foye review was supposed to have tightened up the system and Kenny MacAskill, the Justice Secretary, introduced a presumption against abscondees being allowed back into the open estate as a result.

However, yesterday's report by former prison governor Professor Alec Spencer reveals that Martin had absconded from Noranside open prison near Forfar in 1987 and escaped from his prison escort at Bridge of Earn Hospital in 1989.

His "extensive" criminal history included assault and robbery and theft, dating back to 1976. He was jailed for three firearms offences and assault to injury and danger of life in 2006.

Despite this, Martin was transferred from a "top-end" facility at HMP Shotts to Castle Huntly, near Dundee, in April. He went on the run just weeks later.

He gave himself up to police one week later, but not before a damaging political row that culminated in calls for the resignation of Mr MacAskill.

The report reveals that the decision to move 51-year-old Martin - who was serving 10 years for firearms offences - was taken before police replied to the prison with concerns over his history with firearms and escapes.

Old forms, which should have been replaced following a previous review of the system, were used to work out how suitable he was for the open estate.

Mr MacAskill said: "It is clear that Martin's previous absconding history was either overlooked or ignored when that decision was made. In all likelihood, if that information had been known, Martin would not have been transferred.

"In other words, the more robust measures I instigated after the Robert Foye case were not followed by Scottish Prison Service staff on this occasion. I have made it clear to the SPS that this is not acceptable."

For now, the report has becalmed calls for Mr MacAskill to step down but he will struggle to avoid the radical reforms proposed in the report.

Professor Spencer has called for final decisions on transfers to be taken by a governor or deputy governor.

He wants police liaison officers to attend meetings to ensure their intelligence helps to shape decisions, and GPS tagging of long-term inmates in the open estate.

He said that those serving four years or less should not be sent to the open estate and that long-termers should be there for a maximum of one year.

Such a proposal will have a significant impact on the record levels of overcrowding already blighting Scotland's jails, but Prof Spencer believes that attempts to alleviate overcrowding have "diluted" the purpose and safety of open prisons in recent years.

There are currently about 300 inmates in the open estate. That is likely to be halved if the recommendations are implemented.

"The Scottish Prison Service will have to understand that there is no force-field restraining a prisoner in open conditions while he bides his time waiting for further assessments, reports or management plans," the report states.

"Except by chance, there never will be a year when absconds are at zero because prison staff are dealing with individual human beings."

Of the 18,000 inmates leaving prison in Scotland each year, 300 go through the open estate. Only those who have proven they are clean from drugs and prepared to work and engage with rehabilitation can enter an open prison.

Prisoners are only locked in at night, but the majority abide by the rules and return to the community in six to nine months.

Research conducted by the prison service shows that of the 66 men who absconded from Castle Huntly in 2007, only three of them committed further offences.

Some were only at large for less than a day and cited reasons such as spending more time with elderly relatives. Others had failed drugs tests and were afraid of being sent back to closed prisons.