Prisons - Fit For Purpose?

Chair: Judith Robertson (Scottish Human Rights Commission)

Panelists:
Pete White (Positive Prison? Positive Futures..),
Andrew Mclellan CBE (Church of Scotland),
Professor Lesley McAra (University of Edinburgh)

Penal policies vary greatly between countries in the western world. Are prisons best served to punish individuals, and reform behaviour, or do they simply provide a place for convicted criminals to be separated from society?

How has Scotland’s approach to prisons changed over time, and why do we have such high rates of young people imprisoned? The panel will discuss where the future lies for penal reform, and whether everyone is entitled to a second chance.