Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP today called for a change in attitude towards short-term sentences, after new statistics released by the Scottish Government showed that 59% of those imprisoned for 3 months or less reoffended within a year of their release.

Commenting on the publication of reconviction rates for 2015-16, Mr McArthur said:

"The overall decrease in reconviction rates can't hide the madness of Scotland's short-term sentencing policy.

"Well over half of those given a short stint in prison reoffend within a year of their release. This shows, yet again, that short-term sentences don't work. They are less effective at rehabilitating people than robust, community-based sentences.

"Prison inspectors have confirmed that the result of this policy is more victims of crime in future.

"The Scottish Government needs to get on and introduce a presumption against sentences of less than 12 months. We need a genuine change in attitude."