Minister Announces Early Release for 1,700 Prisoners

September 9, 2024 TruthUSA

Number 10 stated that individuals who have committed serious crimes will not be released on Tuesday, but domestic abuse charities argue that the exceptions are insufficient.

Approximately 1,700 inmates are set to be released early on Tuesday as part of the government’s strategy to alleviate prison overcrowding.

Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson informed the BBC on Monday that probation services have been diligently planning for the release of these individuals.

“People are released on license and may be recalled if they engage in further criminal activities. Various measures are already in place to ensure that tomorrow proceeds as smoothly as possible. However, nobody is enthusiastic about this,” Johnson remarked.

These early releases are a part of a temporary government initiative aimed at addressing prison overcrowding. In the upcoming weeks, an estimated 5,500 inmates will be granted early release and will serve the remainder of their sentences under strict licensing conditions.

When asked about the number of individuals expected to be released on Tuesday, Johnson replied, “I believe it’s around 1,700.”

Johnson noted that the home secretary, safeguarding minister, and Ministry of Justice ministers have collaborated to conduct thorough assessments on those being released. Individuals imprisoned for domestic abuse, terrorism, or serious violent offenses will not be released early.

“We are faced with making these challenging decisions, and our primary goal is to ensure the safety of the community and individuals,” she stated.

Avoiding ‘Unchecked Criminality’

The plan to reduce the percentage of minimum Standard Determinate Sentences from 50 percent to 40 percent, known as SDS40, was announced in July by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

A spokesperson from Number 10 mentioned that without implementing this decision, “prisons would have been completely overwhelmed, and we would have faced uncontrolled criminal behavior in our streets with law enforcement incapable of making arrests.”

The spokesperson reiterated that the government has implemented measures to safeguard the public, emphasizing statements from ministers that there are exceptions to ensure that individuals convicted of violent and severe offenses are not eligible for early release under the program.

Those being released will have a comprehensive release plan including accommodation arrangements and assistance in finding employment.

“We also acknowledge the immense difficulty this poses for victims, and most importantly, within the release plans—which are mandatory for every departing prisoner—victims will be informed in advance. That is crucial,” the spokesperson added.

Domestic Abuse

Despite assurances from Johnson regarding the non-release of domestic abusers, charities have raised concerns that the exemptions to early release are inadequate.

Jessica Eagelton, head of policy and public affairs at Refuge, expressed that the list of early release exemptions will not cover all domestic abuse offenders, such as those charged with common assault or individuals with a history of domestic abuse imprisoned for unrelated offenses.

Eagelton remarked, “While offenders released will be supervised by the Probation Service, previous doubts have been raised about the probation service’s ability to effectively monitor domestic abuse perpetrators.”

Probation Services Stretched

Probation and rehabilitation charities have also voiced fears that there will not be enough support for the large volume of released offenders, heightening the risk of re-offending.

A representative from rehabilitation charity Switchback stated, “These measures must be accompanied by investments in effective resettlement to stabilize the justice system and make a lasting impact.”

The representative mentioned that many young men are being released without adequate support and “as a result, the release scheme risks compromising rehabilitation and escalating re-offense rates unless supported by proper assistance and effective resettlement.”

Last week, the prison population hit another peak, with official figures showing 88,521 individuals incarcerated on Friday, 171 more than the previous record set the prior week.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated that overcrowding was a consequence of the previous government’s failure to construct additional prisons and that he plans to commence expanding the prison infrastructure once his administration can amend planning regulations.

The government also intends to recruit 1,000 new trainee probation officers by March 2025 to meet the increased demand.

PA Media contributed to this report.

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