On arrival, everyone goes through reception – the process of formally being checked in to the prison. It can feel like a lot at once, so here’s what to expect, step by step.
Searching. You’ll be searched by an officer of the same sex, just to make sure nothing prohibited is being brought in.
Property. Your belongings are checked against what’s allowed. Anything you can’t keep with you is stored safely until you’re released.
Money. You can’t hold cash in a Scottish prison. Instead, you’re given a Prisoner’s Personal Cash (PPC) account, which family can pay into online, by post, or in person, and which is used for canteen purchases and phone credit.
Records. You’ll be photographed, fingerprinted, given a prison number, and told your Earliest Date of Liberation (EDL) – Scotland’s term for your provisional release date.