Throughcare Services

Throughcare is used to provide services to prisoners both during and after their sentence. The number of offenders using Throughcare services is small compared with other core Criminal Justice Services. However, a significant proportion of these offenders present a serious risk to others, particularly women, vulnerable adults and children. It is anticipated this work will increase as government policies on the supervision of high risk offenders take effect. More information about this can be found on the Scottish Prison Services website (this link will take you to another site).

Objectives

To participate in planning for the release of prisoners subject to statutory supervision on release through effective liaison with prison Social Work Services.
To supervise discharged prisoners subject to statutory licence on release in terms of National Standards.
To ensure that all high risk offenders are supervised effectively. This is in accordance with the recommendations of key policy documents such as the ‘McManus Report’, ‘A Commitment to Protect’, ‘The McLean Committee Report on Serious and Violent Offenders' and ‘Reducing the Risk – The Report of the Expert Panel on Sex Offenders’.
To provide effective advice, guidance and assistance to discharged prisoners seeking a service within 12 months of release.
To publish a range of performance information annually on throughcare services and to enhance our accountability to funders, courts and the community.

Pre-Release Work

Home circumstance reports are provided by community based social workers to assist the Parole Board and the First Minister make decisions about early release on parole, and about conditions to be inserted in parole and non-parole licences. It is anticipated that there will be a gradual increase in the volume of requests for such reports as a result of growth in the number of non-parole licences.

Statutory Supervision

Life Licence
Parole Licence
Non-Parole Licence
Extended Sentences
Supervised Release Orders

The growth in non-consensual forms of supervision has had an impact on the nature and focus of Throughcare work and has meant that Criminal Justice Services increasingly deal with high risk and dangerous offenders.

Voluntary Assistance

Criminal Justice Services are required to provide advice, guidance and assistance to prisoners who seek it within 12 months of release.