A conviction should not define a person for life - we must look beyond the label

Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine, CEO Apex Scotland | Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine, CEO Apex Scotland

We are often very good at telling people they need to change. We talk about taking responsibility, learning from mistakes and making better choices.

But how willing are we, as a society, to recognise that change when it happens? At Apex Scotland, we support people to rebuild confidence, develop skills and access opportunities to move forward. Meaningful change takes commitment, reflection and a willingness to take responsibility.

But individual determination can only go so far if society continues to hold the door shut.

It won’t take long scrolling through social media or flipping through the newspaper to spot stories about Scotland’s prison crisis.

Record numbers of people are serving short-term prison sentences, while many others remain on remand. The system continues to creak, groan and crack under the weight it carries.

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I don’t doubt the pressure faced by those working inside the prison system. I see this through the throughcare teams we have across Scotland. But how did we get here? And how do we get out?

This crisis has not happened overnight. It reflects a steady expansion of legislation and public pressure for custodial consequences for those who commit crimes.

The black and white drive for retribution and a supposed balance in punishment has helped push the prison system beyond what is safe or sustainable.

There is a need for prison, just like there is a need for rehabilitation and support to help people avoid returning. Taking crime seriously and believing people can change are not contradictory.

For people with convictions, the past can become a shadow that never disappears. It follows them into job interviews, housing applications and relationships, shaping perceptions before they have the chance to demonstrate who they are today.

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Challenging stigma does not mean excusing offending or minimising harm. Accountability matters, and public protection must remain paramount as does the possibility of rehabilitation.

Apex Scotland believes safer communities are built by helping people change their lives, not simply by punishing them. Community sentencing can combine accountability with practical support, helping people move away from offending and contribute positively to society.

Community sentences are not suitable for every offence or individual. They require effective supervision, sufficient funding and appropriate safeguards. But where appropriate, they can offer a constructive alternative to short prison sentences, supporting rehabilitation while easing pressure on an overstretched prison system.

In order to move away from our reliance on custody, we must build public confidence in community sentencing. That takes investment, effective delivery and the courage to change direction.

Employment, stable housing and access to support can help people establish an identity beyond their offending. Yet we cannot expect people to change while denying them realistic opportunities to do so.

Fairness does not mean ignoring risk. It means making informed decisions based on circumstances, the nature of the offence and evidence of change, rather than allowing a conviction to define someone’s entire future.

If Scotland is serious about reducing reoffending and building safer communities, we must balance consequences with opportunities for rehabilitation. We cannot imprison our way out of every problem, nor expect different outcomes by continuing to do the same things.

The alternative is a system that risks perpetuating the very cycle it is supposed to break.

Can we choose to see the person beyond the label?