[Names have been changed to preserve anonymity]
Amanda, 22 years old, was recently liberated from Cornton Vale after serving a sentence for assault to injury with intent to rob. This was her third time in prison. Amanda was first introduced to Shine when she was on remand and her mentor has worked continually with her for seven months, and will continue this work for another six months now she has been released. She is currently pregnant with her second child.
[Names have been changed to preserve anonymity]
Annie was in custody for violent behaviour, which was associated with alcohol and substance misuse. She gave birth while in custody. The baby was taken into kinship care by the boyfriend’s family, as there were child protection concerns.
Annie was liberated into temporary accommodation nearby her son, and with the help of Shine has managed to re-establish contact.
[Names have been changed to preserve anonymity]
Cathy was sentenced to six months for non- completion of Community Service and for breaching an ASBO. She is 24 years old and has one son, six years of age, who resides with her parents and they have full parental responsibility for him. There are no restrictions on contact between Cathy and her son.
[Names have been changed to preserve anonymity]
Emma was in custody for theft; associated with substance misuse and due to be released on Home Detention Curfew.
[Names have been changed to preserve anonymity]
Karen was referred to Shine Womens Mentoring Service by her Criminal Justice Social Worker. She was on a community payback order and her social worker indicated that Karen was not complying with this. She was not turning up to prearranged appointments, and was going out with friends from house to house drinking alcohol. Karen’s offending was alcohol related, as she was making poor choices and had low confidence and self-esteem.
[Names have been changed to preserve anonymity]
When Kerry was released from Cornton Vale Prison she was in a very chaotic place in her life. She was allocated a Shine mentor who supported her into homeless accommodation in Dumbarton.
[Names have been changed to preserve anonymity]
Kirsty had a long history of offending and has been involved in the youth justice system and adult criminal justice system for many years. Although still relatively young she has been in prison on a number of occasions and served two years and nine months on her most recent sentence.
[Names have been changed to preserve anonymity]
Lucy was referred to Shine while in custody at HMP Edinburgh. The key aspects of Lucy’s mentoring plan were: transport, resolving her housing and benefits issues, ensuring benefits were put in place, dealing with confidence, relationship building with her family, and building a positive future for Lucy. In addition, Lucy needed to know where she stood with Phoenix futures, to gain support around her cravings.
Delivered as a public social partnership, Shine has been supporting the newly-established Community Custody Units (CCU) in Scotland, with mentors and prison-based champions embedded within service provision at both the Bella and Lillias centres.