PRISON: JOHNSTONE COMMENTS ON CORNTON VALE REPLACEMENT
Responding to the announcement by the Justice Secretary that a new women's prison for 80 prisoners is to be built to replace Cornton Vale along with five smaller regional units, Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian and a member of Holyrood's cross-party group on Families Affected by Imprisonment, said:
"The Scottish Government's original idea of a single, massive jail would have gone completely against all the evidence. Today's announcement is a clear sign that ministers have listened to the wide range of voices urging a rethink.
"Given that most women in prison have complex needs, often due to abuse and health problems, it's good to see those issues being focused on through the creation of small-scale support units. Imprisonment of women has a huge impact on families, and a more dispersed approach will enable us to protect the public while reducing reoffending."