To address severe overcrowding in prisons, the Scottish government has implemented an early release program, freeing over 500 inmates serving short sentences.
This move aims to alleviate the pressure on Scotland’s prison system, which is facing a crisis similar to that in England and Wales, where governors have warned of imminent capacity shortages.
By releasing select inmates early, the Scottish government hopes to mitigate the issue and prevent further strain on the prison system.
Victims are concerned about the risks to their own personal safety, and we are aware already of some prisoners who have been in contact with victims saying that they are going to be released, and it being used as a coercive control tool.”
The Scottish Prison Service insists safety is a priority.
Victim Support Scotland has expressed concerns that the early release of prisoners in Scotland will lead to an increase in reoffending, citing a previous instance where over 40% of released prisoners reoffended within six months, resulting in more victims. The charity’s chief executive, Kate Wallace, warned that the current system, which exempts sex offenders and domestic abusers but allows other prisoners with short sentences to be released early, will likely lead to similar outcomes, putting more people at risk of becoming victims of crime.
A spokesman said: “Governors have vetoed anyone they found posed an immediate risk to individuals or groups, with the help of intelligence from police and social work.”
The Prison Governors’ Association (PGA) warns that the severe overcrowding in prisons will soon render police powerless to detain criminals, as there will be no available space to hold them.
This crisis will effectively hamstring law enforcement’s ability to take suspects into custody, further exacerbating the already dire situation.
