Dear Sir or Madam,

Under the FoI (Scotland) Act, can you provide me with the following
information about prisoners released from Scottish jails on
compassionate grounds since the formation of the Scottish
Parliament in 1999?

I would like to know the number of applications for such release,
and the number of prisoners whose applications were successful.

In addition I would like to know the terms that these prisoners
were sentenced to and the crimes for which they were convicted.

Yours faithfully,

James West

_____________________________________________
From: McDonald L (Lorraine)
Sent: 18 September 2009 18:01
To: '[email address]'
Subject: Release of prisoners from Scottish jails on compassionate
grounds

Mr West

EARLY RELEASE ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS

Thank you for your e-mail of 22 August seeking information on prisoners
granted early release on compassionate grounds in Scotland.

Since 1999, 33 prisoners applied for early release on compassionate
grounds. 26 of these were granted and 7 were rejected. Details of the
individuals' sentences and the crimes for which they were convicted are
given below:

Granted

12 years- assault and Robbery
4 years - contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act
6 years - Assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement
5 years and 15 months -contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act
12 months - Theft (x2)
7 years - Contravention of Sexual Offences Act & Lewd Indecent &
Libidinous Practices & Behaviour
3 months & 15 months - Culpable & Reckless Conduct - Theft by
housebreaking, Assault and Robbery
Life - Murder
Life- Culpable Homicide
3 years 9 months - Fraud
3 years 6 months - contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act
Life- Murder
6 years -Fraud (x13)
5 years extended sentence- Lewd Indecent & Libidinous Practices &
Behaviours (x2)
6 years - contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act
15 months - Assault and robbery
6 years - contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act
4 years 6 months - contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act
11 years extended sentence - contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act,
assault to danger of life, assault and Breach of the Peace
7 years - Lewd, Indecent & Lib Practices & Behaviour
3 months -Contravention Civic Government (Scotland) Act 82 (intent to
commit theft)
Life -Murder, Robbery , Assault & Robbery, Theft, assault and
contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act
8 years- attempted murder
8 months & 40 months - contravention of the Road Traffic Act and Misuse
of Drugs Act
Life- Murder
Life- Murder

Refused

8 years - contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act
34 months -contraventions of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act and
Road Traffic Act
3 years - contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act
Life- Murder
4 years 4 months - contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act
3 years - Theft of motor vehicle, theft by housebreaking
5 years extended sentence - Lewd Indecent & Libidinous Practices &
Behaviours (x2)

I hope that this is helpful.

Lorraine McDonald

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