I REFER to the article, 40 freed in Scots tagging trial back in prison (October 14). On contacting the Scottish Prison Service your reporter was informed that no prisoners released from Scottish prisons on the Home Detention Curfew scheme had been recalled as a result of committing an offence. Despite this, the article states "40 prisoners have been sent back to prison either for further offending or breaking the conditions of their tagging order". This statement is inaccurate. To date, every prisoner recalled from Home Detention Curfew has broken the conditions of his/her licence but no prisoners on the scheme have been charged with committing an offence.
The article states that 11-per cent of the prisoners released on the scheme have been recalled. This is correct; but it has to be taken in context. It also means that 89-per cent of prisoners released on Home Detention Curfew have complied with the terms of their release. That means that more than 300 low-risk prisoners have been released into the community and complied with all of the conditions of their release. This has helped community reintegration: many families have been given the opportunity to rebuild relationships and provide essential support mechanisms that will contribute to a reduction in reoffending.
Tom Fox, Head of Communications, Scottish Prison Service, 5 Redheughs Rigg, Edinburgh.
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