Why are there so many people in Scotland’s jails?

Debate on prison reform often references the so-called Nordic system – where Scandinavian countries jail fewer people and place a strong focus on rehabilitation.

Norway for instance has a maximum prison sentence of 21 years.

Prisons are generally smaller with better facilities for inmates and an emphasis on training and skill-building.

But the Scottish Sentencing Council, external recognises that rehabilitation of the offender is not the only function of a sentence. Punishment, expressing society’s disapproval and protection of the public are also important.

The possibility that long term prisoners could again be automatically released two thirds through their sentence prompted a joint statement, external from Victim Support Scotland, Women’s Aid, Rape Crisis Scotland and the domestic abuse charity ASSIST

“We note that these proposals would apply to prisoners who have been previously denied parole and would be back-dated to 2016,” they wrote.

“We therefore have grave concerns about victims’ and public safety.”

Balancing the rights of prisoners and victims is a difficult and sensitive issue.

Dr Anderson accepts “it’s messy” – but she thinks with the right resources and protections they can be reconciled.

“Most victims of crime say ultimately that what they want is to ensure that no-one experiences what they have.

“We know that imprisonment, for most people doesn’t address why the harm was committed and it doesn’t fix that.”

A smaller prison population could allow the prison service to work far more effectively with the inmates that remain, she argues.

“When you have a prison that’s overcrowded, just running the basics takes longer – so if there are people in that establishment who don’t really need to be there, they shouldn’t.”