Hundreds more prisoners released early in jail crisis plan

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 10 Nov, 09:14 · Archive

Around 650 more offenders have begun leaving English and Welsh jails early under the government's scheme to ease overcrowding.

Around 650 more offenders have begun leaving English and Welsh jails on Tuesday as part of the government's scheme to ease the prison overcrowding crisis. This is the third phase of releases since the scheme began on 1 October, when at least 1,350 offenders left jail early. By the end of the year, officials project that at least 2,500 will have been released overall.

Offenders leaving in this phase are serving up to three years and two months and are leaving after serving no more than a third of their sentence in jail, rather than the usual half. The group includes those convicted of affray, burglary, fraud and some violent offences including wounding and grievous bodily harm with intent, as well as lower-end firearms charges. However, offenders convicted of more than 70 offences remain exempt, including manslaughter, rape, sexual offences and those serving life sentences.

The releases are scheduled to continue in batches, with the final phase in June including offenders serving more than 12 years. According to the latest weekly prison population statistics, the scheme is beginning to have an impact on overcrowding, with 86,982 people in jail on Monday and enough spare spaces for 2,076 additional offenders.

How it is being reported

• More prisoners leave HMP Wandsworth in latest wave of early releasesAround 650 prisoners were due to be freed on Tuesday morning in the latest phase of the controversial schemeEvening Standard · 10 Nov, 11:03
• Hundreds more prisoners being released earlyHundreds more prisoners are being released early this morning, as part of a scheme to ease overcrowding in Britain's jails.Sky News · 10 Nov, 06:37
• Hundreds more offenders to leave jail on TuesdayAt least 1,350 offenders have been released from jail early under the scheme so far.BBC News · 10 Nov, 01:06

In this story: England and Wales · BBC News

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