Facilities at Cornton Vale must be improved urgently (Midlothian Liberal Democrats)

Midlothian Liberal Democrats <laird.ross@btinternet.com>

Facilities at Cornton Vale must be improved urgently

January 26, 2010 11:21 AM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Commenting on the hard hitting HMIP report into facilities at HMP & YOI Cornton Vale, Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Robert Brown MSP said:

"This is a hard hitting report and facilities at Cornton Vale must be improved urgently.

"Overcrowding means that female offenders are locked in cells for too much of the time. They are not getting access to proper rehabilitation facilities and too little attention is paid to their underlying problems.

"Rehabilitation opportunities and training is vital for these women if we are to get them back on track.

"Overcrowding could be cut if there was better support and rehabilitation facilities for minor female offenders in their own communities.

"This would help them tackle the problems that lead them to offend, whilst retaining their family links.

"Many of the women at Cornton Vale are in prison to protect themselves as much as to safeguard the public. More could be done to get them back into leading more productive lives."