Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) has been trialling a new process to support prisoners transition into life in the community following their release.
The council has been addressing previous issues with offenders being unable to get registered with a GP or find somewhere to live long-term.
The council has adapted its procedures in response to the Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Act – which received Royal Assent on January 22 – and allows short-term prisoners to be automatically released after serving two-fifths of their sentence.
Bailie Mike Williamson raised the issue during a discussion of the latest Community Justice Report at a meeting of PKC’s Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee on January 22,
The Highland Perthshire ward SNP councillor said: “When prisoners are released from prison, locally, there used to be problems historically with them getting access to medical treatment because doctors didn’t want to take them. How has that been resolved?”
Councillors were told how quite a bit of work had been done in relation to the early release of prisoners.
Community Justice Quality Improvement team leader Eleanor Lindsay said: “We’ve had a test of change running in Perth and Kinross in relation to GP registration.
“One of the things we have done initially was to tie it in with the coordination of voluntary throughcare, trying to make sure all short-term residents being released early from a short-term sentence have the offer of voluntary throughcare. As part of that offer we have a look at what their GP registration status is as they are approaching release.
“If that person doesn’t have access or is no longer registered, one of the priorities of the coordination of that release is registering the person with a GP.”
Measures have also been taken to find prisoners somewhere to stay on their release.
PKC’s Community Justice Quality Improvement team leader explained how the team checked the details and housing status of prisoners three months prior to their release.
She said this enabled them to “make those connections as early as possible with our Housing team” in order to “allocate a sustainable tenancy on release”.
Following the meeting, the Local Democracy Reporting Service asked if there were plans for PKC to continue the trial which it has modelled to neighbouring local authorities.
A council spokesperson said: “The Sustainability Tenancy test of change will require evaluation before a commitment can be given to future continuation, based on best value to residents and the council. The test of change was introduced to address the needs of short-term prisoners and the programme of early release instigated by Scottish Government. Previous arrangements also addressed these specific needs but given the changing justice landscape our services have had to adapt to the evolving complexity of requirements to support these individuals.
“In terms of GP registration, prior to the test of change we were encountering issues with people returning to the community and not being registered with a GP following release from prison. The work to date will also be subject to evaluation before any future implementation on a permanent basis.”
Bailie Mike Williamson added: “I believe that officers have been working hard to smooth the transition for people on their release from prison.
“People are now able to get the right support to get access to GP surgeries, work placements and housing – easing the transition from prison to normal life.”