Governor defends early releases due to overcrowding at Barlinnie Prison, citing potential system failures and safety concerns.
Barlinnie is a huge prison in Scotland. It holds way too many people. It was built for 987 inmates, but now has almost 1,400, which is 140% of its capacity.
The governor, Michael Stoney, is worried and said he’d struggle to live there. Freeing up space is very important. Without it, problems may increase. He fears the prison is like a pressure cooker.
Overcrowding makes everything harder for people, including inmates and staff. Essential systems could fail, as power, water, and heating are at risk. He said they were once a day from losing power.
Barlinnie can handle more people than other prisons. If Barlinnie fails, there’s nowhere else to go, and overcrowding would only get worse.
They’re building a new Barlinnie. It should open in 2028. Some people think it’s too fancy, and costs are rising to about £1 billion.
Stoney explained the new cells are bigger and that ventilation and lighting are improved. They designed it for better health, and everything has a practical purpose.