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Prison projection statistics
21/11/2008
Commenting on the latest prison projection statistics out today, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said:
"The projections out today don't tell us anything we don't already know. While crime has fallen in Scotland we continue to lock up more offenders than ever before.
"We need prisons but inherited a prison estate that was not fit for purpose. This is why we are putting in record investment of £120 million in each to deliver three new prisons - the first of which opens in Addiewell next month - and a modern prison estate fit for the 21st century.
"Prison - if necessary for a long time - will always be the right punishment those involved in serious crime and those who are a danger to our communities.
"But we cannot and will not build even more prisons to fill them with those for whom prison is not the right answer. This will do nothing to tackle re-offending. Each new prison means fewer new schools and hospitals or help for our elderly and our children.
"Why should so many prisoners, committing low level crime, get free bed and board courtesy of the taxpayer when they could be paying something back through the sweat of their brow on tough community sentences?
"We need to bring about radical change. For those who are caught in the revolving door of low level criminality and who want to get the chance to turn their lives around - tough community penalties delivered swiftly are a much better way to protect our communities in the long run. That is what we will do with our plan for a modern penal policy that we will be producing soon."