Agent video links

You can now conduct a secure meeting with your client in prison using a video link from your laptop, tablet or PC.

Visits by video link are conducted in the same way as physical visits, are private and ‘out of hearing’ but within ‘sight’ (in accordance with the Prisons Rules (Scotland) 2011).

The key benefits of using the video link system are:

• You spend less time travelling to and waiting at prisons.
• You can have meetings with several clients located in different prisons on the same day.
• A visit by video link can easily be conducted from your desk with a webcam or tablet device.
• You will be able to take on more clients due to less time spent travelling.
• You will reduce your emissions and the carbon impact of legal aid expenditure.

The prisons currently set up for visits by video link are:

• Addiewell
• Barlinnie
• Cornton Vale
• Dumfries
• Edinburgh
• Glenochill
• Grampian
• Greenock
• Inverness
• Low Moss
• Kilmarnock
• Perth
• Polmont
• Shotts

We are leading the Scottish Government’s Justice Digital strategy to make greater use of video links for solicitors’ advice to:

• Clients in prison
• Suspects in police stations
• Suitable court proceedings

The aim of the strategy is to have modern, user-focused justice systems that use digital technology to deliver simple, fast and effective justice at best cost while reducing the need for unnecessary travel.