The UK government is set to release a second batch of 1,000 prisoners early as part of its efforts to address chronic overcrowding in jails, according to an announcement made on Tuesday, October, 22, 2024. This follows a similar release of 1,700 prisoners last month.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed that previous mistakes in the release process, which saw 37 ineligible prisoners mistakenly freed, had been resolved. She stated, “Earlier mistakes that led to 37 ineligible prisoners being erroneously freed have now been ironed out.”
The review of sentencing options will explore tougher non-custodial punishments, including the use of “nudge” technology, such as apps or watches to encourage compliance with offender conditions, and home detention curfews. The aim is to ensure that prison spaces are prioritized for dangerous offenders.
Mahmood revealed that the overcrowding crisis was inherited from the previous Conservative government, claiming, “We were down to fewer than 100 places across the whole of the country,” upon Labour’s takeover in July 2024. She warned that without immediate action, the situation could have led to the “breakdown of law and order.”
The early release scheme applies to certain non-violent offenders who have complied with specific conditions, allowing them to be released after serving 40% of their sentence, instead of the usual 50%.
David Gauke, the former justice secretary now leading the review, highlighted that 90% of those sentenced to prison are reoffenders, with the prison population rising by 4,500 annually. He stated that the current system is “clearly not working.”
“This review will explore what punishment and rehabilitation should look like in the 21st century and how we can move our justice system out of crisis and towards a long-term, sustainable future,” Gauke added.
