New video on prison sentencing

A new video commissioned by the Scottish Sentencing Council offers insights into prison sentencing in Scotland.

The short film features people who have knowledge of the prison system from a variety of perspectives, and opens with the powerful story of victims expert and Council member, Lynn Burns, talking about her experience following the murder of her son Sam.

The video, along with the Council’s other website material, is intended to assist people’s understanding of prison sentencing, particularly at a time when it is a topic of wider consideration.

The video highlights the importance of access to rehabilitative programmes in prison. The Scottish Sentencing Council fully shares and supports this view and notes the need to adequately resource these programmes to support efforts to reduce reoffending.

The film captures the views of people who have experience and knowledge of the prison system, and offers insights into prison sentencing overall, as well as to what a prison sentence involves day to day.

It features interviews with a High Court Judge who explains the factors taken into account when prison sentences are decided, a senior Scottish Prison Service manager who discusses the prison estate and how it operates, and the views of a leading academic in criminology.

Interwoven with these interviews is the testimony of a person currently serving a long-term prison sentence who describes the impact it has had on her.

The film is the second in a series on sentencing produced as part of the Council’s online information resources. The first in the series is on community sentencing, and both videos are available to view here.