Catherine Deveney's excellent article gave a very clear insight into conditions in Cornton Vale, and their effects on women in the prison (The number of women in prison has doubled in a decade.
Why?, News, April 15). The article referred to the mother and baby unit, where babies are born into prison life and then two years later are taken into care. It also dealt with the chaotic lifestyle brought on by alcohol and drugs, and the hopelessness that situation brings.
The recommendations in the Independent Commission Report include practical proposals to reduce re-offending in women, but the report also adds: "Although the remit was restricted to issues affecting adult women, many of our proposals may also benefit male offenders." Creating a smaller population of males and females in custody and creating more community-based and local establishments appears to make sense. For serious cases, however, small and specialist units are necessary. This would end the situation of a Dumfries-based grandmother having to travel 100 miles by bus with a baby to visit the child's mother or father in the national women's prison at Cornton Vale, or in Barlinnie. Society must address this problem and I believe the report commissioned by the Justice Minister should be implemented even in these difficult economic times.
Jas H Scott
Chair, Cornton Vale Young Offenders Visiting Committee
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