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xCabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs responds to joint letter on families affected by imprisonment
Date: 24th July 2024
Category:
General measures of implementation, Family Environment and Alternative Care
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs has responded to a joint letter coordinated by Families Outside, supported by organisations including Together. The letter called for urgent cross-portfolio recognition and response to the challenges facing families when travelling to visit loved ones in Scottish prisons.
In her response, the Cabinet Secretary acknowledged the issues and highlighted several measures the Scottish Government has implemented to support families.
Key initiatives outlined included:
- Funding for Families Outside and Prison Visitor Centres;
- Promoting the Help to Visit scheme; and
- Introducing the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) Family and Parenting Strategy.
The SPS Family and Parenting Strategy aims to accommodate family needs, such as those relating to school hours and public transport constraints, to maintain meaningful contact during imprisonment.
The Cabinet Secretary also emphasised the benefits of the National Free Bus Travel Scheme, which provides free travel for eligible individuals. She recognised that no ‘solution’ had been offered in her response and instead offered to meet with Families Outside to further discuss the issues families affected by imprisonment are experiencing.