Prison could do more for short-term inmates

Hamish Hutchinson • Published 1 Sep 2010 16:14 0 Comments

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HMP Glenochil Governor Dan Gunn with HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Brigadier Hugh Monro, inside Glenochil Prison. (picture by Jan van der Merwe)

SHORT-TERM inmates at Glenochil are not receiving the same opportunities to learn new skills as long-term prisoners, according to a new inspection.

Chief Inspector of Prisons, Brigadier Hugh Monro found the take-up of vocational programmes was "overly skewed" towards long termers (those serving four or more years) with little regime for many short-term prisoners.

He was also concerned about the number of prisoners remaining in the halls during the day instead of being involved in "gainful activities".

Mr Monro said, "Short term prisoners don't have sufficient access to activities, such as education, vocational training and skills-based training, and I want to see that balance changed. It is those things together that will help reduce re-offending. It's just as important for those who are here for a year as it is for those who are here much longer."

Steven, who is serving an 18-month sentence, told the Advertiser, "The education classes are there but it does take a fair bit of time before you get to them. I had to wait four months just to get on one."

The report states that on one occasion only 181 inmates out of 664 were out of the halls engaged in structured activity, attending visits or other appointments.

And despite recreation facilities including a snooker and pool table, table tennis tables, multi-gyms and evening education and PT sessions inmates complained that recreation was "boring".

Glenochil Governor Dan Gunn said, "Glenochil is historically a prison for long term prisoners and as such we still prioritise long term prisoners and their needs. We still have work to do in balancing the needs of the long term and the short term and that will always be an area of work because the numbers and groups will vary."

He added that "short, short-term" prisoners will always miss out but there is scope for the "longer, short-term" prisoners.

It was one of several findings made during an inspection of the facility between 26 April and 2 May this year.

Overall, Mr Monro found HMP Glenochil to be a "well managed prison that provides good conditions for prisoners" with ten examples of "good practice", however 17 recommendations were made for areas of improvement - including nine for the Scottish Prison Service to address.

Recommendations include reducing the long waiting times for assessment to undertake offending behaviour programmes, such as the Violence Prevention Programme. But Mr Gunn told the Advertiser it was an issue of "timetabling" programmes for prisoners that caused the delay and it was "not as grim a picture as is in the report".

Mr Monro said, "The establishment is in the final stage of a major reconstruction and refurbishment programme and I was pleased that staff and management were able to maintain good standards throughout this period of considerable disruption.

"I want to highlight the prison's safe environment, with comparatively low levels of violence, excellent healthcare provision and good education facilities. Robust discipline and complaints procedures are also in place."

A former young offenders institution, Glenochil has only been holding short-term prisoners for the last three years. At the time of the inspection the facility housed 284 short-term and 384 long-term prisoners.

Mr Monro welcomed the institution's low positive drug test results - only six percent of prisoners tested positive for illegal drugs on release - in comparison to other establishments and recommended a national review of drug testing.

He said the quality of visits was high but recommended the creation of full-time Family Contact Officers. The report also suggested that visitor centres should be required at prisons that are national facilities or those with poor transport links, including Glenochil. It noted that a building that could have been used as a potential visitor centre was torn down as part of the redevelopment plans.

Meal times were also an issue and the report recommended the length of time food was kept in hot trays before serving should be kept to a minimum.

Mr Monro said, "The food is healthy and well prepared but in my opinion it does not taste as good as it should. Food is often cooked 45 to 60 minutes before it is served and because of the amount of time it's sitting in the trolley it deteriorates. Food is a major highlight of the day for prisoners so it is important that it's done right."

The report praised the good relationship between staff and inmates and Mr Gunn believes this helps some inmates see an end to the re-offending cycle.

He said, "We have to encourage them (prisoners) to feel that they have a choice and be well informed to make this choice. If they can talk to staff and see staff as role models then that will help the process of change. It also makes a much more pleasant working environment for staff rather than a 'them and us' situation."

He went on, "Overall it is a good report. It shows an encouraging state of play at Glenochil with work to be done in certain areas. Many of them relate to the fact that there has been rebuilding and some buildings have been under utilised because of that. As we come to the end of that rebuilding those areas will get more attention and resources."

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