overcrowding

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said the bill would ensure jails continued to function safely and effectively, as overcrowding could reach "critical levels" if ministers did not act.

The father of young woman shot dead on Christmas Eve said the early release of her killer's accomplice due to prison overcrowding "makes a mockery" of justice.

Jason was jailed for nearly four years for driving offences but he was let out eight months early as part of the government's early release scheme to deal with overcrowding and poor conditions.

The government is currently seeking to ease overcrowding in jails in England and Wales through a major review of sentencing and a prison early release scheme.

"Post-war Glasgow had some of the highest rates in Europe of TB and that was really driven by overcrowding and substandard housing, really poor nutrition after WW2 and air pollution."