3. CUSTODY AND GOOD ORDER
Security and Safety
3.1 There have been no escapes since the last inspection.
3.2 In 2005-06 there were 12 serious prisoner-on-prisoner assaults. While this is reducing, it still breaches the performance target. In the same period there had been 34 minor assaults. In 2005-06 there had been no serious prisoner-on-staff assaults. In the same period there had been 12 minor staff assaults. There had been five serious prisoner-on-prisoner assaults between 1 April and 31 July 2006, and no prisoner-on-staff assaults. There had been 19 minor prisoner-on-prisoner and six minor prisoner-on-staff assaults in the same period.
3.3 There had been six suicides in 2005-06 (several still subject to Fatal Accident Inquiries) and three between 1 April 2006 and the inspection (subject to FAI). ACT documents were initiated 113 times in 2005-06 and on 46 occasions from April to July 2006. Initiatives such as the 'First Night Centre' and the Residential Care Unit within 'D' Hall support the ACT Strategy. The Multi-Disciplinary Mental Health Team meets weekly and the ACT Group meets every two months. Two Listeners attend each meeting, but not for the full duration due to the confidential nature of some of the discussions. Eighty six percent of staff are trained in the new ACT procedures.
3.4 Relationships between staff and prisoners were very good. This was confirmed in discussions with both groups.
3.5 Management have restructured the Residential hall functions and the demographics of the prisoners within them to tackle and reduce the impact of certain groups coming into contact with each other. The introduction of the First Night Centre provides an initial assessment of individual risk as well of its impact on other areas of the prison.
3.6 There is a general feeling that Barlinnie is a safer place than it has been in the past. This was reported by staff and prisoners.
Prisoner Complaints Procedure
3.7 Prisoners can access complaint forms in each hall without having to ask a member of staff. In line with SPS guidance an officer provides the initial response to a complaint and if the complaint proceeds to the next level a First Line Manager answers it. In the past it was perceived by managers that too many complaints were going to the Internal Complaints Committee ( ICC). This has been reduced significantly by raising staff awareness. A paper or electronic guide to good complaints management would also be a useful tool to maintain standards. No such training pack exists.
3.8 The ICC's are very well organised. A weekly rotation is published of ICC Chairpersons. The list is made up of Unit Managers and the Chaplain. It is encouraging to see the Chaplain involved in this element of the life of the prison. The Business Improvement Assistant ( BIA), who organises the ICC hearings, collates any complaints that have reached the ICC stage. The BIA also participates as an ICC member along with an officer or other member of staff.
3.9 A sample of complaint forms from each stage of the process was examined. The answers were of good quality and timescales were met. Record keeping is excellent. The BIA keeps a paper copy of each complaint and another copy is placed in each prisoner's record. As is the case in other establishments the logging of complaints onto PR2 is inconsistent. The BIA maintains a 'standalone' computer record tracking each complaint to maintain the data needed for management information.
3.10 The CP system in Barlinnie is very good. This was also reflected in comments made in the 2005-06 Annual Report of the Prisons Complaints Commissioner.
Prisoner Disciplinary System
3.11 When prisoners are charged with breaches of prison discipline, depending on the seriousness of the charge they are either dealt with in the hall where they live or in the main Orderly Room. Minor offences are dealt with in the hall by the Unit manager or the Duty Manager. Serious cases are dealt with in the main Orderly Room, which is located in the office in the Segregation Unit. One Unit Manager conducts most of these disciplinary hearings, which has the advantage of ensuring consistency. Paperwork for all hearings is prepared, managed and recorded in the Segregation Unit.
3.12 A number of adjudications were observed during the inspection. These were conducted in a relaxed manner, and most SPS procedures were followed. However, staff stood in the eye line of the prisoner who was seated. Staff should follow the normal SPS practice and be seated during adjudications.
3.13 From the adjudications observed and from an examination of records some inconsistencies were identified. It was also apparent that little detail of the hearing was recorded. It was observed that evidence was not presented in a sealed evidence bag and that evidence was routinely disposed of, even though one case was subsequently referred to the police. SPS instructions on the preservation of evidence should be adhered to. Evidence should also be presented in sealed evidence bags. Adjudications are carried out at an appropriate management level, although there are some inconsistencies in practice. Senior management should audit adjudication proceedings on a regular basis.
Night Duty
3.14 One First Line Manager, 14 Operations Officers and one Nurse Practitioner provide night duty. An inspector spent some time in the prison during the night. Night duty instructions were found to be of good quality: essential information is set out in sufficient detail and is user friendly.
3.15 The officers on night duty are a mix of those who do night duty only and some who are on night shift as part of their overall shift rotation. Officers were competent and confident when asked about their responsibilities. They had a good grasp of emergency procedures.
3.16 Barlinnie is the last prison in Scotland to have a nurse on the night shift. This means that prisoners with medical problems during the night can be seen by a nursing professional more quickly than in other prisons.
3.17 Night duty is well organised.
Segregation Unit
3.18 There have been no structural alterations to the Segregation Unit since the last Inspection. There are 17 cells, 14 of which have integral sanitation. Facilities are adequate, although the whole area is in need of decoration. During the visit one prisoner was on a "dirty protest" which was causing the staff some difficulties, but through a pragmatic approach they were minimising the effect on themselves and other prisoners.
3.19 Twelve prisoners were being held within the Unit at the time of inspection: eight from other establishments. Of the four prisoners from Barlinnie three were untried and awaiting a court appearance. They had been held within the Segregation Unit for approximately 11 months. There was no record of any interventions or support. Consideration should be given to holding structured Case Conferences for all segregation prisoners, which addresses individual aspects of their management.
3.20 All paperwork for holding authority was correct and readily available.