Hannah Graham
@drhannahgraham
Criminologist and academic | Commissioner, Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission | Scottish politics & policy #ScotPol | Personal account/views. 📍 Scotland 🏴
Board Member Vacancies (x4, £paid) The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland is an independent statutory body that protects and promotes the human rights of people with mental illness, learning disabilities, dementia & other conditions fa-evxn-saasfaukgovprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
To be frank, this reflects poorly on IPS and McCaffrey. If the internal diplomatic approach didn't work, I'd take the "shout it from the rooftops" approach – it is embarrassing. Our legislation isn't perfect, but it's stronger 👇 Overcrowded prisons elsewhere don't need to interfere with Inspectors!
The Council of Europe Anti-Torture Committee has published its report on visits to prisons and Police custody in Scotland 🏴 They highlight prison overcrowding as a critical issue that needs to be addressed. They praise Scotland ending jailing of under 18s. 🔗 #HumanRights www.coe.int/en/web/cpt/n...
"The idea that [No 10 North] should lead local government reform and action in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is constitutionally dubious and bureaucratically horrifying." 'The Mayor of England' – great blog by Michael Keating on Burnham www.centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk/blog/2026/ma...
The Scottish Parliament is advertising for Senior Clerks to work in Committees or Chamber Office. These are fairly well-paid, influential roles in Holyrood. #Jobs #Vacancy #ScotPol #Holyrood @parliament.scot 🔗 ce1046li.webitrent.com/ce1046li_web...
Indeed. Burnham also picked Bangor as the other place to mention, which *checks notes* recently decided to keep its "distance" from Labour in the Senedd and elect all six Bangor Conwy Môn constituency MSs from other parties, including now Plaid Cymru First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth. Erm. Well then.
Very good contribution by @alynsmith.bsky.social to Scottish Parliament debate on reducing the #prison population. It shows real insight into the need to understand wider context, recognising health and welfare issues, and importance of the third sector in rehabilitation and community justice. 8/🧵
Several major proposals to change Scottish Justice and try to reduce the high #prison population are set out by Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray 👇 In effect, Scottish Government have agreed with/supported a few key recommendations made by our independent Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission 👏 6/🧵
In Scottish Parliament today, here's the motion by Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, for debate on our high #prison population It is anticipated he'll set out the Scottish Government response to key recommendations by the independent Sentencing & Penal Policy Commission.
Why is this relevant? Tomorrow, a debate on the last day before @parliament.scot recess (until September), is on the Scottish #prison population. The emergency in Scottish Justice is real *now*. Our Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission set out recommendations for change. Will we see action? 7/🧵
Heartening to hear the Chief Inspector Sara Snell (HMIPS) call for the Sentencing & Penal Policy Commission report and recommendations (Feb 2026) to be taken seriously, at the Criminal Justice Committee. She has emphasised our Commission's recommendations in her news media contributions, too. 6/🧵
Long-serving Justice Committee member, @pauline4glasgow.bsky.social: "The Scottish #prison system is an international embarrassment, surely?" She asks about MSP access/oversight? Sara Snell (HMIPS) says MSPs and the judiciary should visit and have more proximity to @scottishprisons.bsky.social 5/🧵
Q: Chief Inspector of Prisons Sara Snell is asked by the Criminal Justice Committee: given the Scottish prison population "has grown exponentially, have staffing numbers grown commensurate with that"? A: No, staff profile and capacity hasn't grown in line with high prisoner numbers. 3/🧵 #prison
In response to a question by @davidlindengla.bsky.social MSP, Chief Inspector of Prisons Sara Snell discusses the growing number of older and elderly people held in Scottish prisons and the intensive health and social care they need, at the Criminal Justice Committee @parliament.scot 2/🧵 #prison
Latest on the Holyrood 'press pen' to contain journalists. Presiding Officer Kenny Gibson and Chief Executive David McGill respond to the letter from Scottish Parliamentary Journalists’ Association. They say some MSPs and staffers find walking past media huddles 'difficult' and 'intimidating'.
Many Scottish buildings (and a fair few Scots themselves) aren't built for heat. And this week's forecast is approaching as hot as it gets here in 🏴 😎
Our anti-racist repertoire for the wee group of anti-immigration guys in #Glasgow: 🎶 No Scotland for Nazis🎵 👏 There are many, many more of us than you 👏 👏 This is what community looks like 👏 👏 Say it loud and say it clear: refugees are welcome here 👏 👏 The people united will never be defeated 👏
Was down in the crowd for ages near a barrier, then went up for a bit, now back down in the crowd for hearing speeches ☺️ 👋
A wee group of angry balaclava and mask-wearing anti-immigration guys tried to stop the good people of Glasgow showing solidarity with migrants and standing up to racism and fascism. Well, the far right are far outnumbered... #RefugeesWelcome #MigrantsWelcome #NeighboursNotStrangers #Glasgow
Convenerships and members of Committees at Holyrood are online. The Criminal Justice Committee: 🎗 @alynsmith.bsky.social (Convener) 🎗 David Linden 🎗 @mariemcnairmsp.bsky.social 🌹 Pauline McNeill 🟢 @maggiechapman.bsky.social ⏹️ Amanda Bland 🔵 Stephen Kerr Looking forward to seeing them get underway.
The First Minister has appointed a notably reduced list of Special Advisers, though with no new names (yet) to replace a few departures. In 2023, there were 18 Spads, now 12. Given the likely spread of portfolio responsibilities and considerable workload, I imagine more will be appointed. #ScotPol
📍 Hidden Door Arts Festival at The Paper Factory – superb, as ever. Especially enjoyed Valtos as well as 'The machine shuts down' drummers. #HiddenDoorFestival #Arts #Edinburgh @hiddendoorarts.bsky.social
Kirsty Lockwood speaking in Glasgow on her debut novel, 'We know what you did', already nominated for a prestigious award. Her humour, humility, and warmth makes for a great author talk – but don't believe any self-deprecating chat, she's going places, writing book 3. @kirstystrickland.bsky.social
A total privilege to speak to over 200 Justice Social Workers from across Scotland today @socworkscot.bsky.social First, sharing some emerging themes from our comparative probation & JSW research. Then, with wonderful Lynsey Smith, leading two workshops on the Sentencing & Penal Policy Commission
A glorious sunny, warm day for playing unofficial tourguide showing friends around Pitlochry, Perthshire. #LongWeekend #DayOff
A good, fixed-term senior researcher job going at SPICe in Holyrood @parliament.scot The role focuses on devolution and constitutional issues, elections and referendums, and parliamentary procedures and scrutiny. #Job #Vacancy #Research #Holyrood 🔗 ce1046li.webitrent.com/ce1046li_web...