Voices of Prisoners: Experiences Shared with Let’s Be Heard – A Case Study

Prisoners were given the opportunity to share their insights with Let’s Be Heard, highlighting the lessons they believe can be drawn from their experiences. One of the core questions on the Let’s Be Heard response form asked respondents what lessons they think should be learned from their pandemic experiences. This section outlines these lessons as conveyed by respondents. 

Respondents provided many suggestions as to how prisons in Scotland can be better prepared to respond to future pandemics. The actions they proposed can be divided into preventative measures to reduce risks and the responsive actions to manage the effects of a pandemic. Key insights and lessons included:

Preventative measures

• having clear, practical plans in place for each prison facility to respond quickly, including recovery processes to return to pre-pandemic routines;
• training staff in outbreak management, with a focus on infection control procedures and compliance, as well as compassion for prisoners’ needs during an especially challenging time;
• creating protocols for regularly testing prison staff as well as for prisoners or staff transferring between facilities, including hospitals, to reduce the risk of infection; and,
• improving access to testing kits for prisoners.

Responsive actions

• sustaining clear communication between authorities and prisoners about ongoing events and information about the virus and vaccine;
• providing sufficient PPE, cleaning materials, and regular access to hygiene facilities for both prisoners and staff;
• maintaining progression and release programmes without delays;
• continuing work, education and exercise programmes that adhere to safety measures or continued in virtual form;
• having alternatives to isolation lockdowns for prisoners;
• maintaining the quality and timing of food provided to prisoners;
• ensuring timely medical treatment and support for prisoners with health concerns; and,
• investing in consistent and accessible mental health support for all prisoners.

It is important to note again that the views provided in this section are those of the prisoners who participated in Let’s Be Heard, and do not represent, nor anticipate, the conclusions of the Inquiry.

4.1.1 Pandemic preparedness

Prisoners expressed that the Scottish Government and prison authorities were not adequately prepared for the pandemic and its consequences. Many respondents emphasised that it was essential to learn from how things were handled in the past, to create clear, organised plans that properly address prison-specific needs. These plans need to include strategies for helping the facility return to regular operations as efficiently as possible. 

Examples of lessons shared by prisoners include:

• “There should have already been a pandemic plan in place. This should be updated.”
• “The lesson here would be to have a crisis plan in place in case of a similar incident, a plan that prisoners would be aware of.”
• “Better operational planning and decisions need to be made to not only deal with what happened but what could happen in the future.”
• “I understand that it was an unforeseen situation, but we can use this to create a future crisis plan.”
• “The SPS/government need to look at places like prisons and set up plans for infectious viruses in the future instead of doing nothing.”
• “The SPS recovery should have took effect this would have lifted morale and hope.”
• “Be better prepared with the right PPE.”
• “A valuable lesson was learned we need to take action now, so we are better prepared for any other unknown crisis.”
• “For the government and prison authorities to implement release plans if any pandemic ever arose again, under control or tag measures allowing people to actually breathe.”

4.1.2 Staff training

Many prisoners reported experiencing the effects of a lack of staff training, as staff did not know how to handle a pandemic. As a result, a few respondents highlighted the need for more staff training focused on containing the spread of infection and hygiene protocols. Equally important to respondents is equipping all staff who interact with prisoners with the skills to demonstrate compassion and care.

Examples of lessons shared by prisoners include:

• “Educate and train staff at [prison name] on how to manage virus outbreaks.”
• “More staff trained.”
• “A bit of compassion from at least the nurses.”

4.1.3 Testing protocols

Many respondents consistently highlighted that COVID-19 testing was too slow and limited within the prison. They stressed that knowing infection numbers among prisoners and staff might have helped reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Some prisoners called for better testing protocols, including faster and easier access to COVID-19 testing kits. 

Examples of lessons shared by prisoners in this theme include:

• “Improving access to testing kits for prisoners.”
• “Testing should always be easy to do so more test kits.”
• “There was little provision for any self-testing early in the pandemic.”
• “It should be made mandatory for everyone to be tested and wear PPE.”
• “Access to testing kits.”
• “Get better covid tests.”
• “Do the testing quicker.”
• “Regular lists for everyone and lock up only those with covid.”
• “Improving access to testing kits for prisoners.”

“Health management could have been better regular testing should have been undertaken which it was not.”

4.2.1 Infection control and hygiene

Several prisoners reported challenges in accessing PPE, along with basic necessities such as showers, which they felt were essential for comfort and infection control. They thought there should be more cleaning materials, improved access to personal hygiene supplies, and better availability of PPE to support infection control efforts, especially for prisoners who work on essential tasks within the facility. 

Examples of lessons shared by prisoners in this theme include:

• “Better access to cleaning materials to maintain hygiene standards.”
• “Give us the PPE stuff.”
• “Proper PPE for all key workers.”

4.2.2 Communication

During the pandemic, prisoners reported that the communication of COVID-19 related information specific to the prison population, such as infection rates, was limited to what staff provided. They noted that other information was largely provided to prisoners by their families. Prisoners broadly emphasised that communication breakdowns between prison authorities and prisoners was a common source of anxiety. Many respondents expressed a strong need for more information about what was happening in the facility, including infection rates, as well as details about the virus and the vaccine. 

Examples of lessons shared by prisoners in this theme include:

• “Well for one we should have been notified sooner of the outbreak so that everyone could have been better prepared for COVID outbreak.”
• “Not being able to access info about COVID, vaccines and anything else.”
• “The government giving more information to SPS.”
• “There should be a better way of communication from level to level - Government - SPS headquarters - prison management - prison staff – prisoners.”
• “Better information for prisoners.”

4.2.3 Routines and isolation

Forty-seven out of 74 of respondents (63.5%) found that their mental health was impacted by isolation, which they reported was a result of the measures to minimise the spread of COVID-19 in prisons. Other measures, such as the suspension or reduction of work, education and recreational activities, further contributed to these challenges. Several respondents recommended finding alternatives to isolation because of its negative impacts on mental health. Others emphasised the importance of access to phones, ensuring food quality, and maintaining routines to mitigate these effects. 

Examples of lessons shared by prisoners in this theme include:

• “More technological solutions should be used rather than relying on old traditional methods especially by the SPS […] The psychological impact on prisoners will be something which could manifest itself in behaviour in prisoner and on release in the community.”
• “Not to lock down places completely.”
• “If we went into total lockdown again, things should be totally different, and prisoners should not feel like they’re totally alone.”
• “To allow us out to use the phone as needed.”
• “To have or allow prisoners to sit in each other’s cell so it helps with depression and negative thoughts.”
• “Look at alternatives to isolated lockdowns e.g. have social distanced community mental health sessions.”
• “More of a constant routine.”
• “Give us at least an extra carton of milk. We were locked up 24 hours a day and we got a quarter pint of milk all day they didn't care about us.”
• “Not to isolate people and let their mental health suffer so bad.”
• “I think that they could have dealt with it better for everyone’s mental health not to get so bad and organised some sort of routine for exercise.”

4.2.4 Justice and progression

Several respondents reported delays and disruptions to justice processes during the pandemic in Scotland. A few commented on the importance of maintaining progression and release programmes to minimise these impacts.

Examples of lessons shared by prisoners in this theme include:

• “Ensure that peoples sentences are not extended through a lack of effort on the subject - i.e. do nothing and let people languish in jail.”
• “Keep the justice system moving and don't delay trials.”
• “For the government and prison authorities to implement release plans if any pandemic ever arose again, under control or tag measures allowing people to actually breathe.”

4.2.5 Healthcare and mental health support

Many respondents reported challenges in accessing healthcare, including mental health services. They recommended increased investment in mental health support for prisoners to address these critical needs.

Examples of lessons shared by prisoners include:

• “To take care of prisoners health.”
• “There should have been more welfare checks also especially with people with underlying health conditions.”
• “There should be more mental health help for guys locked up.”
• “Invest in mental health support.”
• “In the event of another pandemic the appropriate measures should be put in place to help people cope and deal with any possible mental health issues that stem from being unable to see family and friends.”
• “I knew many who died in prison, we should have been offered counselling, this first 'response form' in 2023 is far too late.”