The Scottish Sentencing Council releases new podcast on prison sentencing

The Scottish Sentencing Council has launched a new podcast episode on prison sentencing, as part of its Scottish Sentencing Conversations podcast series.

The new episode captures the views of people who have knowledge of and expertise in the prison system, and offers insights into prison sentencing overall, including what a prison sentence involves day to day. Victims expert and Council member, Lynn Burns, opens the podcast with a powerful story talking about her experience following the murder of her son Sam. The podcast also features views from:

• Jim Kerr, Divisional Head of the Scottish Prison Service
• Dr Katrina Morrison, Lecturer of Criminology at Edinburgh Napier University
• a current prisoner serving their sentence.

The podcast also features Lord Beckett speaking at a time when he was serving as a High Court judge. Since the production of the podcast, Lord Beckett has been appointed Lord Justice Clerk and, by virtue of the office, is now Chair of the Scottish Sentencing Council.

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

It also 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 re-offending.

This is the second episode in the Council’s Scottish Sentencing Conversations podcast series, produced as part of the Council’s online information resources. The first episode on community sentencing and the newest episode on prison sentencing are available to listen to on the Council’s website or wherever you get your podcasts.

Videos and further resources on these topics are also available on the website.