Green Candidate Supports Prison Abolition
A Scottish Green election candidate has attracted criticism after expressing her desire to abolish prisons in Scotland.
Kate Nevens, standing on the Edinburgh and Lothians East regional list, stated she is "keen to live in a Scotland" without jails.
Political opponents have labeled her views on justice reform as "absolutely bonkers" and "monumentally stupid."
A spokesperson for the Green Party clarified that jails should be a last resort but did not explicitly endorse their abolition.
They further explained that the party aims to end "mass incarceration and punishment," emphasizing crime prevention and victim support instead.
Prisons 'Poor for Wellbeing'
Nevens, a charity worker, is the second candidate on the Edinburgh and Lothians East regional list for the Greens, giving her a strong chance of election to Holyrood next month if the party performs well.
She is also contesting the Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith constituency.
In an Instagram video, Nevens described herself as a prison "abolitionist" advocating for the "complete abolition" of Scotland's prison system.
"Prisons are not safe, they're violent, they're poor for people's health and wellbeing, particularly if you're a woman. And they fail to support rehabilitation.
So actually they do not make those of us who are not breaking the law safer either."
Nevens stated that the Greens' "ultimate goal" is to eliminate the current prison system.
Meanwhile, she said the party seeks to significantly reduce the number of incarcerations while promoting "community justice," suggesting alternatives such as electronic tagging and unpaid or low-paid work instead of custody.
She emphasized addressing the "root causes" of crime, including trauma and inequality.
Reiterating her stance in a subsequent post, Nevens affirmed she remains "keen to live in a Scotland with no prisons."
Scotland's prison population recently reached a record high despite the government's early release program.
Since November, hundreds of inmates serving sentences under four years have been released early to alleviate overcrowding.
The early release scheme excludes those convicted of domestic abuse or sexual offences.
A Green Party spokesperson commented:
"The evidence shows prison sentences result in high reoffending rates, which does little to keep the public safe in the long term.
That's why our starting point is an assumption against custodial sentences for non-violent crimes.
All forms of detention should be used as a last resort - mainly for violent crimes - and done to protect people and society where there is no alternative."
Criticism from Political Opponents
Scottish Labour's justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill described Nevens' comments as reckless and ludicrous.
"This would let murderers and rapists to walk our streets free of consequences for their heinous crimes.
That is not progressive, it is monumentally stupid."
Angus Robertson of the SNP, standing in Edinburgh Central, called the abolition proposal "absolutely bonkers."
Sue Webber, Scottish Conservative candidate for Edinburgh South Western, labeled the justice proposal "insane and irresponsible."
"It beggars belief that someone who fervently believes that murderers and rapists shouldn't be locked up is high up the Greens' Lothian list and likely to become an MSP."
Reform candidate Thomas Kerr criticized the proposal, stating that "an end to prisons is not liberal or progressive but instead dangerous extremist ideology."
The Scottish Liberal Democrats have been approached for comment.
