The UK government has announced the early release of 1,100 additional prisoners in a bid to address overcrowding in prisons across England and Wales. This decision follows the launch of the early release scheme in September, which has so far created 5,500 extra prison places.
Prisoners convicted of serious crimes such as murder, sexual offenses, or terrorism are excluded from this initiative. However, those serving sentences longer than five years, particularly from open prisons, will qualify. The scheme allows for the release of offenders who have completed 40% of their sentence, down from the previous 50%.
This move comes amid growing concerns over prison capacity, as the population continues to rise faster than new prisons can be built. The current prison population stands at 87,465, with only 1,671 spaces available.
Former Conservative Justice Secretary David Gauke is set to lead a major review of prison sentencing. His review aims to address long-term solutions to prison overcrowding, potentially including alternatives such as house arrest monitored by advanced electronic tagging.
While the scheme aims to alleviate immediate pressures, it has faced criticism over public safety concerns, particularly after 37 prisoners were mistakenly released due to administrative errors. Despite these setbacks, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring that dangerous offenders remain incarcerated.
The review is expected to be completed by spring 2025, with proposals that could reshape how the UK approaches sentencing and punishment outside of prison walls.