Understand
Hundreds of prisoners freed in second phase of early release scheme
Overview
Around 650 offenders are leaving jails in England and Wales in the second phase of the government's early release scheme, aimed at tackling the prison population crisis. The scheme has drawn criticism from victims' groups and opposition politicians over public safety concerns, while probation officers are balloting for potential strike action over workload and pay strains.
Key points
- About 650 offenders sentenced to up to two and a half years are being released after serving a third of their sentence.
- Rapists, serious child sex offenders, and individuals convicted of manslaughter are exempt from the scheme.
- Charities such as Refuge and Women's Aid have raised concerns that domestic abuse perpetrators are being released, putting survivors at risk.
- The probation service union, Napo, warned that members are overwhelmed with work and are voting on potential strike action over pay and workloads.
- Reports indicate that almost half of the electronic tracking tags used to monitor released offenders are not fitted on time.