Prison inmates risk being confused by proposals to change visiting committees, according to an influential Holyrood committee.
The Scottish Government is planning to abolish volunteer-led prison visiting committees – statutory bodies that monitor conditions and investigate prisoners’ requests and complaints – and replace them with two levels of paid and unpaid monitors.
Proposed legislation would create two new roles of paid prison monitors and unpaid lay monitors, both of whom would come under the management of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons Scotland.
In a report published today the justice committee expresses concern over how the two roles of inspection and monitors will retain their independence if they come under the prison inspector.
The committee also wants to ensure that prisoners know the difference between monitors and inspectors and their respective responsibilities.
Convener Christine Grahame said: “We’re not convinced that two levels of monitoring are needed and if paid and lay monitors have different roles, such as in dealing with prisoners’ concerns, it could cause real confusion among prisoners.
“There must also be a clear, understandable distinction between the roles of monitors and inspectors. If, for example, a prisoner is being bullied, he may not feel he can trust a paid official from the inspectorate, but could be able to talk to a volunteer monitor who regularly visits the prison.”