THE government body responsible for upholding standards at Greenock prison, and at similar establishments across Scotland, has launched an appeal for people interested in becoming an 'independent prison monitor'.
His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons in Scotland (HMIPS) is looking for volunteers to sign up to check that inmates in the country's jails are being properly treated.
Independent prison monitors (IPMs) talk to prisoners to make sure that their rights are protected, they have the support they need, that they're treated fairly by prison staff, and that they can raise issues if they need to.
This year, Prisoners Week invites us to hear the voices of all of those living and working in the justice system in Scotland.
In asking us to hear these voices, there is another request: to set aside the cynicism and disillusionment that infects many conversations about criminal justice, not just in Scotland, but in jurisdictions around the world.
This is not an easy ask, as proportionate punishment of those who have failed in certain aspects of their lives, often inflicting pain and suffering on others, is and always has been, an emotive issue.
However, if we consider ourselves a humane and decent country, it is only right that we listen and respond to those in custody, in order to move forward in a way that broadens rather than limits, with tolerance and mutual respect.
At HMIPS we are fundamentally concerned about the treatment and conditions of those held in Scotland's 17 prisons.
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In addition to full inspections of each establishment, the Chief Inspector oversees a separate, but complimentary function of Independent Prison Monitoring (IPM), a system containing a statutory obligation to have independent, volunteer lay people visit each prison on a weekly basis and report on their observations.
The relationship between the monitoring and inspection functions might best be described by considering breadth and depth.
At HMIPS we do not ask lay people to become overly involved in technical aspects best left to the inspection team, but rather provide them with unfettered access to all areas of all prisons, to talk, listen, observe and give voice to what they see, hear and intuitively feel.
And with such a privileged level of access, there is a lot for Independent Prison Monitors (IPMs) to listen to.
That can include a complex tapestry of 8.000 prisoners with the same daily concerns for their health and their family as those of us who live in the community; the officer who is willing to explain the impact and stress caused by short staffing; the chaplain who has detected a changing atmosphere in one of the halls and asks for a quiet word; the officers and NHS staff dealing compassionately with end-of-life care or those with severe and enduring mental health issues.
Matters relating to overcrowding, use of segregation and problems with prisoner transport to courts and hospital are escalated to HMIPS staff by Independent Prison Monitors on a weekly basis, as IPMs report their findings to HMIPS and prison Governors with balance and impartiality.
Last year, IPMs undertook more than 1,000 visits to Scottish prisons and contributed more than 4,000 monitoring hours across the country's 17 prisons, including Greenock.
Monitors also responded to more than 1,400 prisoner requests relating to matters such as visits, sentence progression and personal safety.
These conversations and interactions, sometimes challenging, funny, sad or encouraging, and often all at the same time, help bridge the chasm between prisons and the community.
Individual issues are resolved, some are not, but each request involves listening to prisoners and staff and identifying patterns and emerging themes for those in custody.
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As the Independent Prison Monitoring system enters its tenth year since inception, HMIPS remain proud of the work of all volunteer IPMs, past and present. Their work is evidence of a society willing to raise issues of decency and fairness and work toward solutions.
Their reassuring presence remains an important component of a fair and transparent prison system in Scotland.
IPMs will continue to listen to everyone involved in the prison system in Scotland and amplify their voice where necessary and appropriate, through Prisoners Week and beyond.
If you are a compassionate listener, confident communicator with an interest in fairness and think you would be interested in becoming an IPM, you can find out more and submit an application at mygov.scot/volunteer-independent-prison-monitor.
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