Prisoner resettlement in Scotland

Prisoners and prisons have become an increasing focal point in Scottish politics and policymaking in the 21 century. From 2000-2010, the Scottish prison population rose steadily and, despite recent reform efforts and some decreases in numbers, Scotland continues to have one of the highest prison population rates in Western Europe, at 143 per 100,000 of national population in October 2015 (Walmsley, 2016). The numbers of people leaving prison each year are considerable, as short custodial sentences are common. This chapter offers a bounded overview of the current legal and institutional infrastructure and throughcare provisions that shape the resettlement process. The chapter concludes with brief reflections on some of the challenges and unresolved issues, as well as strengths and opportunities that exist in relation to improving prisoner resettlement in Scotland.