Scottish Prisons Commission Meeting
Date: 3 March 2008, 18.30 - 21.30: George Hotel, Edinburgh
Attendees:
Henry McLeish (Chair)
Chief Constable David Strang
Sheriff Alistair Duff
Richard Jeffrey
Geraldine Gammell
Lesley Riddoch
Jim Kerr, Scottish Prisons Service
Annette Sharp, Secretary, Prisons Commission
Joe Church, Prisons Commission Secretariat
Apologies:
Josephine McLean
Dr Karin Dotter-Schiller
Iain Harron, Prisons Commission Secretariat
Joni Smith, Prisons Commission Press Officer
Welcome and Apologies
1. Welcome and Apologies
1. Mr McLeish welcomed members and thanked them for attending. Karin Dotter-Schiller was unable to attend the meeting but would be available for the last week of April. Josephine McLean is unable to participate further with the Commission, due to unforeseen work pressure in the Glasgow Courts.
Workplan
Finalising International Visits
2. The most relevant places to visit had been narrowed down to Ireland, Finland and New York. It was agreed that the secretariat should make the relevant contacts and prepare a schedule.
Action: Secretariat
Raising the Public Profile
3. The Commission discussed the proposed public events to raise public awareness on this issue including the options, outcomes and costs. The Question Time type events would involve a large amount of organization, and it was thought necessary to bring an events organizer in to do this. It was agreed that the Commission Secretary would arrange for this.
Action: Secretariat
4. It was agreed that professionals should sit on the panel at these events. The Commission members could explain the Commission's remit and the evidence that had been gathered and would function primarily as event facilitators. The Secretariat would prepare a list of suitable venues, dates, as well as audience size, and a list of stakeholders to invite. It was agreed that May would be the best month to hold these.
Action: Secretariat
Visits to Polmont YOI and Kilmarnock Prison
5. Henry McLeish, Richard Jeffrey and the Commission Secretary would visit Polmont YOI tomorrow. Members agreed to advise the Secretariat of their availability to enable the visit to Kilmarnock Prison to be finalised within the next few weeks.
Action: Secretariat, Commission
Visiting Alternative to Custody Project
6. It was felt that it was vital to see how community disposals were delivered in Scotland before we looked elsewhere. Initial contact had been made by the Secretariat with Sharon Stirrat of Falkirk Council and a date towards the end of April would be arranged.
Action: Secretariat
Correspondence from Prison Visiting Committee
7. The Commission noted the correspondence received from Cornton Vale Over 21s Visiting Committee regarding the revolving door effect caused by offenders having outstanding warrants. It was agreed that Prison Visiting Committes should be invited to participate in the public events and would be contacted regarding these.
Findings and Recommendations on CSaW and the Open Estate
8. The Commission Secretary circulated a short report pulling together the main findings to date regarding CSaW and the Prison Open Estate. It was agreed that the Commission Secretary would make some minor amendments to the draft before circulating to all members. The members agreed that it would be helpful to have a meeting to finalise the Commission's recommendations. Due to the member's other commitments it was agreed that the secretariat should arrange an evening meeting.
Action: Secretariat
Date of Next Meeting
9. To facilitate the planned forthcoming activities, the secretariat would co-ordinate the Commission members diaries, and arrange suitable dates and venues. Thereafter a date for the next meeting would be fixed.
Action: Secretariat
Summary of Action Points
1. Secretariat to make contact with the Finnish Justice and Prison system representatives, and organize and schedule the visit.
2. Secretariat to speak to Julius Lang regarding New York Community Justice Centres, and circulate a paper on the Centre for Court Innovation.
3. Secretariat to bring in events organizer to co-ordinate public events.
4. Secretariat to write list of venues, dates and stakeholders to invite to the public events.
5. Commission and Secretariat to visit Polmont YOI. Secretariat to arrange visit to Kilmarnock Prison.
6. Secretariat to arrange visit to a community project.
7. Secretary to amend and circulate draft findings on CSaW and the Prison Open Estate. Secretariat to arrange evening meeting for discussion of the report and to agree recommendations.
8. Secretariat to coordinate diaries of commission members and find suitable dates for forthcoming events.
Scottish Prisons Commission Secretariat
March 2008