Justice Secretary cannot avoid hard choices on female sentencing -

BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats <info@banffandbuchanlibdems.org.uk>

Justice Secretary cannot avoid hard choices on female sentencing -

July 31, 2009 11:00 AM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Commenting on the news that the Justice Secretary is to hear concerns from staff at Cornton Vale prison in Stirling that short term jail sentences are having a devastating effect on women's' lives, Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Robert Brown MSP said:

"The Justice Secretary should take these concerns very seriously.

"Short term prison sentences don't work and do little to help the victims of crime. Many women prisoners in Cornton Vale are more of a danger to themselves than the public.

"It is high time we developed better ways of helping women in this position - often with chaotic personal lives - to turn things round and get their lives back on track.

"What is needed is effective support for women in their own communities to help them deal with their problems, whilst retaining their family links.

"But Ministers should be under no illusion. Getting rid of short term sentences for women needs imagination, commitment and resources. This will involve some hard choices."

Ends.