The prison system in the UK continues to face challenges as overcrowding issues persist. The government has announced that another 1,100 prisoners are set to be released early next week in an effort to alleviate the strain on jails. This will mark the second round of early releases under a policy introduced to reduce the percentage of a sentence that offenders must serve behind bars from 50% to 40%.
In September, 1,700 inmates were released early, leading to a temporary decrease in the prison population from a record high of 88,521 to 86,333. However, the numbers have since climbed back up, reaching 87,028 on Friday, just below the levels seen when the Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, first announced the release plans in July.
The early release scheme excludes certain offenders, such as those convicted of sexual, domestic abuse, or terrorism offences, as well as violent offenders serving sentences exceeding four years. Despite efforts to manage the prison population, there were instances in September where 37 inmates were mistakenly released due to errors in sentence logging. Justice Secretary Mahmood has confirmed that all 37 individuals have been returned to custody.
Mahmood is expected to launch a review of sentencing practices, contemplating reforms that may prioritise tougher community sentences over short prison terms. It was recently announced that magistrates’ sentencing powers will be doubled, allowing them to imprison criminals for up to a year. While this move aims to address backlogs in crown courts and reduce the number of remand prisoners awaiting sentencing, it is anticipated to initially result in a slight increase in the overall prison population.
However, the Criminal Bar Association has cautioned that expanding magistrates’ powers could lead to a significant rise in the prison population within a few months, describing it as a short and long-term concern. The ongoing efforts to address these challenges reflect the government’s commitment to managing the criminal justice system effectively while ensuring public safety.
The release of more prisoners next week highlights the ongoing struggle to manage overcrowding in jails and the complexities associated with balancing punitive measures with rehabilitation efforts in the UK’s criminal justice system.