IN your article (How Do We Reduce Scotland’s Prison Population?, State of the Nation, April 23), you pose a question. As they say: “It’s not rocket science”. Many prisoners coming out of jail, because of their CV, find it impossible to get near a real job interview. Most people leaving prison return to family or friends, at least in the short term. But often relationships with family and friends have broken down. Family and friends often have moved on in their lives, though if they can see that progress has resulted in prison, perhaps in terms of addressing past issues, then they might be more prepared to help on release. It is very difficult to secure housing on release as waiting lists are long. Many find themselves in very negative home circumstances and many find themselves unwelcome and homeless.
Prisoners and their families receive assistance and support from the Prisons and Probation Services, and voluntary agencies to help them prepare for life after prison. This includes advice about their entitlement to state benefits, training, education, work experience and preparation for release. The objective is to help prisoners return to normal life, get a job and home, and cope with life without re-offending. But the reality, without a job, is being sucked into a vortex of depression.
What is most important is a proper job with a decent wage and a sense of worth. Our prisons have many inmates who do not pose a risk of violence. What we need, in order to empty our prisons of this type of inmate, is proper risk assessment of individuals considered for release into a challenging work scheme.
The challenging work schemes should be funded to provide progressive town and city improvements. The schemes should not be contracted out to individuals and companies who rip off government funding, giving little value in return. It would be preferable for the released prisoners to be formed into small teams with individuals operating a job card system that would have to be signed off by the artistic supervisor authorising payment.
Ernie Hasler, Kilpatrick,
Trustee with Emmaus Glasgow
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