The Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, currently Teresa Medhurst, is responsible for its administration and reports to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, who is responsible for the Scottish Prison Service within the Scottish Government.
There are fifteen prison establishments in the country, one of which is privately managed.[2][3] The SPS employs over 4,000 staff, with its headquarters in One Lochside, located in South Gyle, Edinburgh.[4][5]
Prior to April 2004, the SPS was directly responsible for escorting convicted prisoners in Scotland, including those appealing their conviction or sentence.[6] The duties of escorting prisoners on remand and managing court custody facilities were the responsibility of the relevant local police force.[6]
In November 2003, the SPS signed a contract on behalf of the Scottish Ministers for a "Prisoner Escort and Court Custody Service".[7] This contract with Reliance Secure Task Management Ltd provided for all prisoner escorting between police cells, court, prisons and hospitals as well as covering escorts from prison such as funerals, hospital appointments and community placements and also operating the court custody units.[6]
In 2012, the court custody and prisoner escort service contract was taken over by G4S.[8] Geoamey currently run the service, having taken over from G4S in January 2019. The current contract is due to expire in January 2027, subject to an optional extension for a period of up to 4 years.[9]
An aftercare scheme, Throughcare, has significantly cut reoffending. The scheme involves getting released prisoners a roof over their heads, sorting out their benefits and medical needs, and showing them that someone cares about them. 78% of former prisoners who received Throughcare did not return to prison over two years. Eleven Scottish prison service sites use Throughcare.[11] "The TSOs [Throughcare Support Officers] use a case management approach, working collaboratively with the prisoner, their family, statutory and third sector service partners, to discuss appropriate support provision and to develop a personalised plan to support the person during their transition from custody back in to the community."[12]
The SPS has been featured in many TV shows including Prison: First & Last 24 HoursonSky One which was broadcast between 28 October 2015 and 5 December 2016.
