The Scottish Prison Service said the cause was a huge increase in convictions for gang-related crime.
Scottish Prison Service intelligence reports identified 538 individuals linked to serious and organised crime, roughly 8% of Scotland's total prison population.
Ms Cruickshank said the contracts were for people to be injured or killed, but none resulted in a fatality behind bars. Phil Fairlie, chairman of the Prison Officers Association , said there had been three examples of cars being set on fire in car parks to intimidate staff. "It's a high pressure, very difficult environment and they're physically and mentally exhausted at end of their shift in some of the jails."Ms Cruickshank said SOCG members were constantly trying to use new technology to operate their criminal businesses inside and outside prisons.
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