A PRISONER lived in a tent for eight weeks after being released from jail because no accommodation was available and he went on to commit the same offence again just to get a bed for the night, prison watchdogs have revealed.
Chief Inspector of Prisons David Strand is demanding more work is done to deal with the challenges faced by inmates transitioning from jail to the outside world.
He highlighted the case of the prisoner at privately-run HMP Kilmarnock who had been admitted on a shoplifting offence but had been living in a tent since his last release because he had nowhere to stay.
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The man later deliberately shoplifted in the hope he would be caught and sentenced, believing it to be the only way for him to access a dry bed, warmth and shelter.
Mr Strang acknowledged that returning to the community from prison is “challenging” and said many individuals need more direct support than is available to them.
He is calling for all agencies involved in the reintegration of prisoners into their communities to work collaboratively “to ensure the best possible outcomes”.
He said: “These are not the circumstances we want people leaving prison in 21st century
Scotland to have to face. However, it is not a situation that can be resolved by the prison service alone. This requires a co-ordinated response by all those involved in supporting people in the criminal justice system and beyond. It is unsatisfactory prisoners in HMP Kilmarnock were being denied the same level of support they would have received if they had been located in a different prison.”
The chief inspector spoke as he launched his report of an inspection of the Kilmarnock jail, carried out in November. The prison, which can hold about 500 people, is one of two operated by private-sector organisations on contract to the Scottish Prison Service.
Mr Strang highlighted a number of positive practices at the institution, such as an initiative for inmates to pay outstanding rent arrears from their prison earnings, and certain ways they are able to maintain regular contact with their family.
But he also pointed to “substantial delays” experienced by some prisoners in accessing specialist health services, particularly in relation to mental health assessments and dental treatment.
Alison Watson, deputy director of Shelter Scotland, said: “Addressing the link between the lack of a stable, safe and affordable home on release and the increased likelihood of reoffending is known to be key to breaking the offending cycle, so we welcome this call by the prisons inspector.
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“When in prison, people often lose their accommodation because of an inability to pay rent whilst serving their sentence or through a family break-up. Many don’t have a job to go back to upon release, making maintaining a home very difficult. With the right support, ex-offenders can go on to contribute a great deal to society.”
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