Scottish Prison Service

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. There are seventeen operational prisons located across Scotland: sixteen directly operated by SPS and one operated by a private sector operator under contract to SPS. 

We directly employ around 4,900 staff. We are responsible for those who are committed to our care by the Courts and are accountable to the Scottish Parliament for the delivery of custodial care in accordance with The Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 2011.

We operate a Victim Notification Scheme for registered victims of crime, who have the right to receive information about the progression and eventual release of people convicted of the offence against them. We also manage the contract for the Scotland-wide Court Custody and Prisoner Escorting Service for the provision of safe and secure transport for those in custody to and from courts, and appointments on behalf of multi-agency justice partners.