New Accessible Version of the Prison Rules Now Available

New Accessible Version of the Prison Rules Now Available

A newly accessible version of the Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 2011, commonly known as the Prison Rules, is now available as a resource on our website.

Originally coming into force on 1 November 2011, the Prison Rules set out the legal framework for how prisons and young offenders institutions operate in Scotland. The legislation itself can be accessed via the https://www.gov.uk.

In August 2025, a new accessible edition of the Prison Rules was developed by the Scottish Human Rights Commission in partnership with Parkhead Citizen’s Advice Bureau, and printed and published by the Scottish Prison Service. This version is designed to be easier to understand and more user-friendly.

While this document is available in all Scottish prisons, we believe it’s an especially valuable resource for the families and friends of people in prison, yet it’s not widely circulated or easily accessible outside the prison system. By sharing it here, we hope to help bridge that gap and support greater understanding of prisoners’ rights and the rules that govern their treatment.

You can view or download the accessible version via our resources tab here.

A special thanks goes to our trustee, Gil Long, for her extensive work on this document.