The SPS recognise that we have responsibilties not simply for those in our custody but equally importantly, the wider community.
This page is intended to sign-post some of the activities of SPS which may assist but also offer details of various agencies who may be able to provide valuable advice and support.
There are many organisations in Scotland that can offer you help and support. Some of these organisations have local offices. For more details contact the organisation directly.
The Victim Notification Scheme (VNS) is a statutory scheme, which came into force on 1 November 2004 and created the statutory basis on which to provide victims of offenders who had been sentenced, for certain crimes and to a sentence of four years or more with the right to receive information about the offender's progression within prison and eventual release.
The Scottish prison population has risen rapidly in recent months.
On 13 June 2024, MSPs at the Scottish Parliament voted in support of an Emergency Release programme.