MEMBER NEWS: Coronavirus: Ex-inmate warning over Barlinnie 'tensions'
6 May 2020
SMN Members The Wise Group, have recently spoken with the BBC regarding the increase in demand for their New Routes Mentoring Programme after the Scottish Government approved early releases to help the Scottish Prisons cope with the Coronavirus pandemic. The move will mean that prisoners who had 90 days or less left to serve, or those who have been sentenced to 18 months or less may be eligible to leave prison early.
The New Routes Mentoring programme supports those who are leaving prison, and has been operating for a number of years. The New Routes mentors are now working with a huge increase in the volume of referrals to the service, jumping from around 100 referrals per month to 290. The New Routes service has also created a Liberation Pack, since the mentors were no longer able to meet their customers at the prison upon their release date, containing vital contact information, supermarket vouchers, details of local services and a mobile phone.
Read the full article at the BBC website below:
