Plan to release hundreds of prisoners to curb 'critical' overcrowding revealed

Plans to release hundreds more prisoners to avoid “critical” population levels in Scotland’s jails have been revealed.

The Scottish Government is proposing to reduce the length of time criminals must spend in prison before they can be let out.

It comes after a government report predicted the country’s prisons would be over capacity by more than 1,000 inmates within weeks.

The latest figures show Scotland has 8,273 people in custody. Last month, the First Minister conceded it is a “challenge” for ministers to meet their obligation to “run a stable and safe prison system”.

On Tuesday, the Scottish Government revealed plans to release hundreds of prisoners serving sentences of less than four years earlier in a bid to ease overcrowding.

The Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill proposes that most prisoners serving sentences of less than four years would be released after serving 40% of their sentence, rather than 50% as at present.

This would not be applied to those sentenced for domestic abuse or sexual offences, the Government said.

Under the emergency procedures, the change could be implemented from February, resulting in between 260-390 prisoners being eligible for immediate release.

The Government has proposed managing the release over a six-week period in three tranches.

As the legislation affects those sentenced from that point on, the Government believes it could result in a overall reduction in the prison population of 5%.

The Bill also proposes powers for ministers to change the point of release under licence conditions for prisoners serving sentences of four years or more.

It comes after 477 inmates were released in the summer under an emergency scheme to relieve prison capacity. However, figures from the Scottish Prison Service showed prisoner numbers had surged despite the move.

Information for victims will continue to be available through the Victim Notification and Victim Information Schemes, the Scottish Government said.

Justice secretary Angela Constance said: “The prison population has continued to rise and is projected to reach critical levels again. Long-term action is necessary to deliver a sustained reduction to the prison population and support the effective functioning of prisons.

“The proposals include built-in exemptions for those serving sentences for sexual offences or domestic abuse. We need the prison system to focus on those who pose the greatest risk to the public and provide a range of support to help reduce reoffending and integration back into the community.

“I very much recognise the concerns that may arise from victims and their families. The confidence of victims and the safety of communities is vital, and I will engage with victims’ organisations ahead of any changes.”