Independent monitoring of prisons

In September 2013, the Scottish Government laid a draft parliamentary order setting out the future arrangements for the independent monitoring of prisons in Scotland. It is proposed that three part-time paid monitors based within HM Inspectorate of Prisons Scotland will oversee the monitoring of all 16 penal establishments in Scotland and direct an as yet unspecified number of unpaid, lay monitors to carry out monitoring duties. Howard League Scotland, as well as a number of other stakeholders, provided written evidence to the Justice Committee on the draft order (http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/69498.aspx) and Policy and Public Affairs Manager Lisa Mackenzie gave oral evidence to the Justice Committee on 20 November 2013, the official report of which can be found here: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=8702&mode=pdf

Howard League Scotland is a member of the Independent Monitoring Implementation Group set up by the Scottish Government to implement the recommendations of the Coyle Review that were accepted by the Scottish Government.