What's behind having to release some prisoners early?
Summary
The government is changing plans to release some prisoners in England and Wales earlier than usual to reduce overcrowding in prisons. Certain serious offenders, like those convicted of rape or child sex crimes, will no longer be eligible for early release starting October, but others may be released after serving only a third of their sentence instead of 40% or 50%.Key Facts
- Prisons in England and Wales are nearly full, with 86,495 prisoners on August 3, which is 97% of available space.
- The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) warns prison population may exceed capacity by November.
- The new early release plan exempts those convicted of rape, serious child sex offenses, and grooming from early release starting October.
- Around 5,000 prisoners are expected to be released early under the new plan, down from the originally planned 6,000.
- Sentences in serious courts are on average 25% longer now than in 2012, contributing to more crowded prisons.
- More people are being sent back to prison for not following release rules; license recalls increased by 28% in one year.
- The probation service is under pressure with high caseloads and many vacancies.
- Despite promises to build more prisons, progress has been slow and new prison places have just matched the number of old Victorian-era places lost.
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