SNP released violent prisoners early from prison – but failed to inform most of their victims

Hundreds of victims of violent crime were not informed of their tormentor's early release, despite the SNP's botching of nearly 500 criminal cases.

Scores of prisoners got shorter sentences this summer after the Scottish government introduced emergency legislation to ease pressure on Scotland's dangerously overcrowded prisons.

A similar program released hundreds of inmates early during the pandemic to reduce the risk of the virus in prisons, but more than 40 percent of them ended up back in prison after committing further crimes.

In May, Justice Minister Angela Constance stressed that victims would be protected through a series of notification programs under the new early release program.

However, the MoS can announce today that the Victim Notification Programme has so far only succeeded in contacting five of the 477 victims who were released early.

Justice Minister Angela Constance agreed to the early release of hundreds of prisoners

Meanwhile, another five victims have contacted the Scottish Prison Service themselves, desperately seeking answers about the whereabouts of their tormentors.

In addition, two inquiries were received from victims wanting to know when a prisoner would be released.

This means that overall – if one expects each prisoner to be a victim – only about two percent of those harmed by prisoners released early have had contact with victim support services since the controversial plans were announced.

The Minister of Justice also admitted that none of the prisoners released early have been under official supervision since their release.

The astonishing situation, revealed in a letter from Ms Constance to Labour MP Katy Clark, has sparked outrage among opposition parties and activists.

Ms Clark, Scottish Labour's public safety spokeswoman, said: “The fact that of the 477 prisoners released under the Scottish Government's early release programme only five victims have been notified, or just one per cent, shows how badly the SNP Government is failing victims of crime.”

“The Scottish Government’s victim notification system is not fit for purpose”

Scottish Conservative deputy justice spokesperson Sharon Dowey MSP added: “This SNP flagship project has failed victims miserably time and time again.”

“Their needs are always secondary to SNP ministers – even when prisoners are released.”

Barlinnie Prison on the outskirts of Glasgow

Ms Constance announced the early release in May, confirming the Scottish Mail on Sunday's exclusive report that prisons had reached capacity.

We reported that prison authorities, fearing a “catastrophic” collapse, had written to Ms Constance urging her to authorise bloodletting in prisons.

The head of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) had also claimed that overcrowding could lead to “concerted violence” – and that prisoners were demanding compensation because their human rights had been violated.

Ms Constance announced the emergency release laws shortly afterwards in a statement to Holyrood.

The prison's target capacity is 8,007, but the prison population on the day the plans were made was 8,348.

Only those who would have been released within six months of May after serving a prison sentence of less than four years were eligible for early release.

People convicted of domestic violence, terrorism or sexual crimes were excluded from the rule.

However, victim support organisations immediately raised serious concerns about the plans after being inundated with frightened victims who were “fearful” for their safety.

The Minister of Justice told them there would be a “streamlined” victim notification process, with those participating in an existing victim notification system being notified of early releases.

Even those who are not registered in the victim reporting system will be informed, she said.

Labour MP Katy Clark raised the issue in writing to Ms Constance, who replied on 29 August.

The correspondence, which is available to the MoS, states that “the protection of victims and public safety was a central priority in the planning and implementation of the emergency release process”.

However, it is confirmed: “A total of five victims registered in the VNS were notified prior to the perpetrator's release from custody. In one case, several attempts were made to contact a victim using the contact information he or she provided. However, despite all efforts, contact from SPS was not reciprocated by the victim.

“In addition, a new process was introduced during the emergency early release period to allow victims who had not registered with the VNS to enquire whether they could be notified of an offender's release date. As part of this process, SPS also notified a further five victims of an offender's release date.” Finally, it said two further enquiries were made on behalf of others through the Prison Service's contact team.

What is also worrying is that the prisoners released were all considered short-term prisoners and therefore were not subject to any licensing requirements upon their release.

Ms. Constance wrote that they were “not subject to any supervision after their release.”

Last night a spokeswoman for Victim Support Scotland said they were deeply disappointed that so few victims had been notified.

They added: “In our view, these low figures do not mean that victims do not want to know, but rather that there is a lack of identification and effective communication with victims about the prisoner in their case. Victim Support Scotland raised initial concerns when the Emergency Early Release programme was first announced and these concerns are now confirmed.”

A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said: “The safety and welfare of the people in our care, our staff and the communities we support have been our top priority throughout the emergency early release programme.”

“Everyone registered in the Victim Notification System (VNS) was contacted prior to the person's release and informed of their release date. Four designated Victim Support Organisations (VSOs) were also able to obtain information from us on their behalf.

“And in addition to these measures, victims who had not registered with the VNS and did not wish to be informed through a designated VSO could contact us directly for information.

“A guide on how to use these different measures has also been published on our website, along with links to support organisations, and highlighted across our social media channels.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “The legislation we have introduced has put measures in place to ensure that victims can access information about the release of the prisoner in their case if they wish. We are acutely aware that not everyone wants to receive this information.”

“Victims who were already registered with the two victim notification systems were automatically informed. Anyone else who wanted information could do so through four designated victim support organisations or by contacting the prison service directly.”