More prisoners recalled to jail than released in England and Wales
Summary
More people were recalled to prison than released in England and Wales in the first half of 2026, according to Ministry of Justice figures. The data also show rising annual recalls and continued pressure on prisons, while emergency early-release measures freed tens of thousands of inmates.Key Facts
- Between April and June, 12,338 people were recalled to custody and 12,278 were released.
- From January to March, 13,193 people were recalled and 12,977 were released.
- A total of 52,716 prisoners were recalled in the year to June, a 27% increase on the previous 12-month period.
- Emergency early-release measures freed 79,274 prisoners between September 2024 and June 2026.
- The SDS40 scheme reduced the share of sentences some prisoners served from 50% to 40%; a permanent early-release scheme began on 1 October under the Sentencing Act 2026.
- The Ministry of Justice said policy changes led most recalled offenders to spend 56 days in custody before release rather than remain imprisoned until the end of their sentence.
- Prisons recorded 68,231 self-harm incidents in the year to the end of June 2026, while 360 people died in prison in the year to the end of September.
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