View source for Scottish Prison Service

{{Short description|Executive agency}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name = Scottish Prison Service
|agency_type = [[Executive agencies of the Scottish Government|Executive agency of the Scottish Government]]
|native_name = 
|type =
|logo = Scottish Prison Service logo.svg
|logo_width =
|logo_caption =
|picture =
|picture_width =
|picture_caption =
|formed  = 1993
|dissolved =
|superseding =
|jurisdiction = [[Scotland]]
|headquarters = One Lochside
<br> 1 Lochside Avenue <br> [[Edinburgh]] <br> EH12 9DJ<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact Us |url=https://www.sps.gov.uk/home/Contact-Us-General.aspx |website=Scottish Prison Service |access-date=6 December 2019}}</ref>
|employees = 4,900<ref>{{cite web |title=Working for SPS |url=https://www.sps.gov.uk/careers/working-sps |website=Scottish Prison Service |access-date=26 December 2024}}</ref>
|budget =
|minister1_name = [[Angela Constance]]
|minister1_pfo = [[Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs]]
|chief1_name = Teresa Medhurst 
|chief1_position = Chief Executive
|chief2_name = Linda Pollock
|chief2_position = Deputy Chief Executive
|website = {{Official URL}}
| map = Scotland in the UK and Europe.svg
| map_caption = Scotland in the UK and Europe
}}
{{Scots law}}
The '''Scottish Prison Service''' ('''SPS''') ({{langx|gd|Seirbheis Phrìosain na h-Alba}}) is an [[Executive agencies of the Scottish Government|executive agency]] of the [[Scottish Government]] tasked with managing prisons and [[His Majesty's Young Offender Institution|Young Offender Institution]]s.

The Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, currently Teresa Medhurst, is responsible for its administration and reports to the [[Cabinet Secretary for Justice]], who is responsible for the Scottish Prison Service within the Scottish Government.

There are fifteen prison establishments in the country, one of which is privately managed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sps.gov.uk/Corporate/AboutUs/AboutUs.aspx |title=About us |publisher=Scottish Prison Service |access-date=13 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dunn |first=Ross |date=19 March 2024 |title=HMP Kilmarnock goes public after being taken over by Scottish Prison Service |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/ayrshire/hmp-kilmarnock-goes-public-after-32391106 |access-date=21 May 2024 |website=Daily Record}}</ref> The SPS employs over 4,000 staff, with its headquarters in One Lochside, located in [[South Gyle]], [[Edinburgh]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sps.gov.uk/Corporate/AboutUs/Headquarters.aspx |title=About us: Headquarters |publisher=Scottish Prison Service |access-date=13 February 2016}}</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/oct/11/european-watchdog-finds-emergency-conditions-in-scottish-prisons Watchdog finds 'emergency' conditions in Scottish prisons] ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref>

==Key personnel==
Teresa Medhurst is Chief Executive of the SPS. She is responsible to Scottish Ministers for the management, performance and future development of SPS. Responsibility for all operational matters is delegated to the Chief Executive by the Director General (Education and Justice).  

She is supported by Deputy Chief Executive Linda Pollock.

SPS operates a four directorate model. Each directorate is headed by an Executive Director who are members of both the SPS Advisory Board and the SPS Executive Management Group.

'''Directors'''
* Ian Whitehead and Andy Hodge &ndash; Directors of Operations
* Sarah Angus &ndash; Director of Policy
* Adam Jobson &ndash; Director of Organisational Development
* Gerry O'Donnell &ndash; Director of Finance<ref>https://www.sps.gov.uk/about-us/governance/senior-leaders</ref>

== List of establishments ==
* [[Addiewell (HM Prison)|HMP Addiewell]] (privately run by [[Sodexo Justice Services]])
* [[Barlinnie (HM Prison)|HMP Barlinnie]]
* The Bella Centre<ref>https://www.sps.gov.uk/prisons/bella-centre</ref>
* [[Castle Huntly|HMP Castle Huntly]] ([[open prison]])
* [[Dumfries (HM Prison)|HMP Dumfries]]
* [[Edinburgh (HM Prison)|HMP Edinburgh]]
* [[Glenochil (HM Prison)|HMP Glenochil]]
* [[HMP & YOI Grampian]] ([[Young Offenders Institution]])
* [[Greenock (HM Prison)|HMP Greenock]]
* [[Inverness (HM Prison)|HMP Inverness]]
* [[Kilmarnock (HM Prison)|HMP Kilmarnock]]
* The Lilias Centre<ref>https://www.sps.gov.uk/prisons/lilias-centre</ref>
* [[Low Moss (HM Prison)|HMP Low Moss]]
* [[Perth (HM Prison)|HMP Perth]]
* [[Polmont (HM Prison)|HMYOI Polmont]] ([[Young Offenders Institution]])
* [[Shotts (HM Prison)|HMP Shotts]]
* [[HM Prison Stirling|HMP Stirling]]

HMP Addiewell is privately managed under contract to the SPS.

==Other responsibilities==
===Prisoner escorting===
Prior to April 2004, the SPS was directly responsible for escorting convicted prisoners in Scotland, including those appealing their conviction or sentence.<ref name=auditscotreport>{{cite web|url=https://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/uploads/docs/report/2004/nr_040930_prison_service_custody.pdf|title=Scottish Prison Service Contract for the provision of prisoner escort and court custody services|website=[[Audit Scotland]]|format=PDF|date=11 October 2004|access-date=13 August 2023}}</ref> The duties of escorting prisoners on remand and managing court custody facilities were the responsibility of the relevant local police force.<ref name=auditscotreport/> 

In November 2003, the SPS signed a contract on behalf of the Scottish Ministers for a "Prisoner Escort and Court Custody Service".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sps.gov.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.aspx?fileName=Prisoner_Escort_Court_Custody_Services_Contract.pdf|title=Contract between The Scottish Ministers and Reliance Secure Task Management Ltd for the Provision of Prisoner Escort & Court Custody Services in Scotland|website=Scottish Prison Service|format=PDF|date=3 November 2003|access-date=13 August 2023}}</ref> This contract with Reliance Secure Task Management Ltd provided for all prisoner escorting between police cells, court, prisons and hospitals as well as covering escorts from prison such as funerals, hospital appointments and community placements and also operating the court custody units.<ref name=auditscotreport/> 

In 2012, the court custody and prisoner escort service contract was taken over by [[G4S]].<ref>{{cite press release |last=Shaw |first=John |date=19 June 2015|title=Scottish prisoner escorting |url=https://www.g4s.com/en-gb/media-centre/our-views/prisons/scottish-prisoner-escorting |location=London |publisher=G4S Ltd |access-date=13 August 2023}}</ref> [[GEOAmey]] currently run the service, having taken over from G4S in January 2019. The current contract is due to expire in January 2027, subject to an optional extension for a period of up to 4 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sps.gov.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.aspx?fileName=01500+SCCPES+Contract++6183_2898.pdf|title=Contract between Scottish Ministers and Geoamey PECS Ltd for the Scottish Court Custody and Prisoner Escort Service|website=Scottish Prison Service|format=PDF|date=1 November 2018|access-date=13 August 2023}}</ref>

=== Secure hospital ===
Some prisoners are detained in a secure [[psychiatric hospital]]. This is run by the [[Scottish National Health Service]] rather than the SPS. 
* [[State Hospital]], [[Carstairs]], [[South Lanarkshire]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tsh.scot.nhs.uk |title=The State Hospital |publisher=NHS Scotland |access-date=13 February 2016}}</ref>

==Prison aftercare==
An aftercare scheme, Throughcare, has significantly cut reoffending.  The scheme involves getting released prisoners a roof over their heads, sorting out their benefits and medical needs, and showing them that someone cares about them.  78% of former prisoners who received Throughcare did not return to prison over two years.  Eleven Scottish prison service sites use Throughcare.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-41733721 Throughcare prison support scheme 'cuts reoffending'] ''[[BBC]]''</ref> "The TSOs [Throughcare Support Officers] use a case management approach, working collaboratively with the prisoner, their family, statutory and third sector service partners, to discuss appropriate support provision and to develop a personalised plan to support the person during their transition from custody back in to the community."<ref>[http://www.ccpscotland.org/cjvsf/hot-topics/throughcare-support-officers-scottish-prisons/ Throughcare Support Officers in Scottish Prisons]</ref>

==Media coverage==
The SPS has been featured in many TV shows including ''[[Prison: First & Last 24 Hours]]'' on [[Sky One]] which was broadcast between 28 October 2015 and 5 December 2016.

==See also==
{{Portal|United Kingdom|Scotland}}
* [[His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland]]
* [[His Majesty's Prison Service]]
* [[List of United Kingdom prisons]]
* [[Northern Ireland Prison Service]]
* [[Prison categories (UK)|Prison categories in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service]]
* [[United Kingdom prison population]]
* [[Young offender]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website}}
{{Public bodies of the Scottish Government}}{{Prisons in Scotland}}
{{Non-police law enforcement agencies of the United Kingdom}}
{{CriminalJusticeScotland}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Penal system in Scotland| ]]
[[Category:Prisons in Scotland| ]]
[[Category:Executive agencies of the Scottish Government|Prison Service]]
[[Category:Prison and correctional agencies]]
[[Category:Government-related organisations based in Edinburgh]]
[[Category:1993 in Scotland]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1993]]