Motion
Independent Review of Sentencing and Penal Policy
S6M-16532 · Motion For Debate · lodged by Constance, Angela
Lodged on
18 Feb 2025Heard / answered on
20 Feb 2025Watch the chamber session on SPTV · lands on the meetings recorded on 20 Feb 2025
That the Parliament notes that Scotland has one of the highest proportions of prisoners in Western Europe; recognises the action that has been taken to establish a sustainable prison population and shift the balance between the use of custody and justice in the community, while protecting the public from harm; acknowledges the need for an independent review of sentencing and penal policy to consider how imprisonment and community interventions are used; further acknowledges the key role that the third sector can play in the effective delivery of justice services that reduce reoffending, and support rehabilitation and reintegration into society; agrees that there is a need for strong partnership working and co-ordination between third sector organisations, justice social work and the Scottish Prison Service to provide support and improve outcomes for those leaving prison, and believes that the Parliament has an important role to play in discussing the use of imprisonment and the best means for addressing offending behaviour, by both effective prevention and appropriate rehabilitation, and for reducing crime and keeping communities safe.
Backed by
Supported by 1 additional MSP
SNP 1
Lodged by
Constance, Angela
(Scottish National Party).
- Brown, Siobhian (SNP)
Final vote on motion (no amendments carried)
20 Feb 2025
Carried
Show MSPs
For
70Against
42Abstain
1Not voted
16Amendments were lodged but none were carried; the motion was decided as originally lodged.
Computer-generated best guess
Possible final motion text as originally lodged
This is a computer’s best guess at applying carried amendments to the original motion text. It uses simple text rules for phrases such as “insert at end”, “after X insert Y”, and “leave out from X to end and insert Y”. Treat it as an aid, not the official motion text.
That the Parliament notes that Scotland has one of the highest proportions of prisoners in Western Europe; recognises the action that has been taken to establish a sustainable prison population and shift the balance between the use of custody and justice in the community, while protecting the public from harm; acknowledges the need for an independent review of sentencing and penal policy to consider how imprisonment and community interventions are used; further acknowledges the key role that the third sector can play in the effective delivery of justice services that reduce reoffending, and support rehabilitation and reintegration into society; agrees that there is a need for strong partnership working and co-ordination between third sector organisations, justice social work and the Scottish Prison Service to provide support and improve outcomes for those leaving prison, and believes that the Parliament has an important role to play in discussing the use of imprisonment and the best means for addressing offending behaviour, by both effective prevention and appropriate rehabilitation, and for reducing crime and keeping communities safe.
In the Official Report
Debated in chamber — 6 contributions reference this
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The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
Chamber
· 20 Feb 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 20 February 2025
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16532, in the name of Angela Constance, on an independent review of sentencing and penal policy. 15:12
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The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
Chamber
· 20 Feb 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 20 February 2025
There are four questions to be put as a result of today’s business. I remind members that, if the amendment in the name of Liam Kerr is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Pauline McNeill will f…
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 20 Feb 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 20 February 2025
I remind members that, if the amendment in the name of Liam Kerr is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Pauline McNeill will fall. We come to the vote on amendment S6M-16532.1, in the name of Li…
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 20 Feb 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 20 February 2025
The next question is, that amendment S6M-16532.2, in the name of Pauline McNeill, which seeks to amend motion S6M-16532, in the name of Angela Constance, on an independent review of sentencing and pe…
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 20 Feb 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 20 February 2025
The next question is, that motion S6M-16532, in the name of Angela Constance, on an independent review of sentencing and penal policy, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 20 Feb 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 20 February 2025
The result of the division on motion S6M-16532, in the name of Angela Constance, on an independent review of sentencing and penal policy, is: For 70, Against 42, Abstentions 1. Motion agreed to, Th…
Amendments and how the chamber decided
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S6M-16532Selected itemCarried 70/4218 Feb 2025 · Motion For Debate · Constance, AngelaThat the Parliament notes that Scotland has one of the highest proportions of prisoners in Western Europe; recognises the action that has been taken to establish a sustainable prison population and shift the balance between the use of custody and justice in the community, while protecting the public from harm; acknowledges the need for an independent revi...
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S6M-16532.1Linked amendment/itemDefeated 28/6919 Feb 2025 · Amendment · Kerr, LiamAs an amendment to motion S6M-652 in the name of Angela Constance, Independent Review of Sentencing and Penal Policy), leave out from "Scotland" to end and insert "as a result of, non-exhaustively, significant and long-standing pre-COVID-19 pandemic court backlogs, a high remand population and a failure to timeously build additional prison capacity, Scotl...
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S6M-16532.2Linked amendment/itemDefeated 16/9719 Feb 2025 · Amendment · McNeill, PaulineAs an amendment to motion S6M-16532 in the name of Angela Constance (Independent Review of Sentencing and Penal Policy), leave out from "recognises" to end and insert "acknowledges that prisons remain severely overcrowded, with prisons operating above capacity even after the Scottish National Party (SNP) administration’s emergency early release of p...