Source · SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman)

Scottish Prison Service

SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman) Not Upheld Reference 201105297 Sector Prisons Category Disciplinary Charges - Orderly Room Proceedings Decided 01 July 2012

View Scottish Prison Service scorecard

Full decision

Summary

Mr C, who is a prisoner, complained about the process applied by the adjudicator at his disciplinary hearing. A disciplinary hearing is held to determine whether a prisoner has broken prison rules and to impose an appropriate punishment if proven.

In particular, Mr C said the adjudicator told him he would be finding him 'guilty' before the witness was called to give evidence. As well as calling the witness, the adjudicator viewed CCTV footage. We were satisfied the adjudicator followed the appropriate process, and that he reached his verdict after considering the relevant evidence available.

Mr C also complained because he said the SPS failed to properly consider his complaint. In particular, Mr C said the response he received referred to him calling a prisoner as a witness, rather than an officer. We found that the use of word ‘prisoner’ was inaccurate, but we did not believe that this brought the SPS’s consideration of Mr C's complaint, or the decision they reached, into doubt.

Related reading

View Decision Report 201105297 as a PDF (16.79 KB) Updated: March 13, 2018

View original on SPSO (Scottish Publ… website

Other decisions involving Scottish Prison Service

Reference Date Summary Outcome
202412046 01 Feb 2026 C complained that the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) failed to follow the appropriate procedure after they removed C from association … Upheld
202401074 01 Nov 2025 C complained that the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) failed to take reasonable steps to ensure that they had prompt access … Upheld
202303295 01 Mar 2025 C complained that the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) failed to appropriately investigate their lost property claim. C submitted a claim … Upheld
202006807 01 Sep 2022 C complained about the handing of their Internal Case Management (ICM) case conference. C was unhappy that the Scottish Prison … Partly Upheld
202001300 01 Sep 2022 Ms C provided her express consent for her pronouns to be used for this publication. Ms C complained about matters … Partly Upheld
View all decisions for this organisation