Failings of the Early Release Scheme
The BBC have been discussing the early release scheme in their article, this is a plan outlined by the government that prisoners serving sentences of less than five years will be released after completing only 40% of their sentences. This was decided in July of 2024 after a surge in the prison population meant that there were not enough facilities to house all inmates.
Of course, the need for such plans does make sense, considering the lack of space, paired with the increase in sentences. However, as these prisoners are released early, one charity informed that women and children would become the ‘unintended victims’ in these plans, while it is also feared that an early release will halt needed work in rehabilitating these prisoners.
Such worries have proven to be correct however as a recent article found on the BBC announces that a man, Amari Ward, released through the early release scheme has gone on to sexually assault a woman the same day of his release. The former Prime Minister is said to have firmly believed that no one ‘deemed a threat to public safety would be eligible’ for early release. So why is it that one of these very prisoners have gone on to commit a crime of sexual assault, if the former PM was so sure?
It has also been reported that officials previously warned that those put up for early release may offend once again.
Additionally, The Telegraph has commented on the early release scheme, with the title of ‘Prisoners released early are already back in jail’ highlighting the failings of the government as the worries of many have come true.
In The Guardian, the prison population has successfully declined by 2,188 within a week. This displays the early release scheme works when we look at it in terms of the numbers, with there now being 3000 vacant prison cells. However, victims of those previously incarcerated are understandably outraged by this early release scheme, though the female releases are shown to be greater than the men, with women falling by 5.9%, while men are at 2.3%.
The article further showcases that Napo has determined the premature release of inmates is ‘a ticking time bomb that could put public safety at risk.’ Though as previously shown in The Telegraph and the BBC, such a statement has proven correct, as many inmates are carted back to prison.
As the government is shambles, with their early release scheme potentially putting the public in danger, a greater change is needed to ensure prisoners serve their terms and that society is kept safe. The question remains, what more can be done to quell this rising threat of overcrowding?
