'Prison is not working' says minister, as more than 1000 prisoners get early release
As more than 1,000 prisoners are released across the UK on Tuesday, the prisons watchdog has warned that it is "inevitable" that some will re-offend, as ITV News UK Editor Paul Brand reports
Up to 1,100 prisoners are set to be released on Tuesday as part of the next stage of early inmate releases aimed at alleviating the jail overcrowding crisis.
This decision came as the Ministry of Justice said that overcrowding had pushed jails to the "point of collapse".
The release policy was expanded to prisoners serving sentences of five years or more. This all comes after around 1,700 prisoners were released from jails across England and Wales in September.
In July, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced plans to temporarily reduce the proportion of sentences that inmates must serve behind bars from 50% to 40%.
The scheme excludes people who have been convicted of serious violence, sex crimes, and terrorism.
Mahmood said the prison service is "on the brink of disaster", and admitted "prison is not working at the moment", with prison places running out and many prisoners reoffending.
The justice secretary accepted that some of those released from prison on Monday will re-offend, but denied there had been an increase in recalls to prison during the first round of early inmate release.
The government has also announced a review of sentencing to ease the burden on prisons, and Mahmood says the government is considering "expanding punishment outside of prison."
Speaking on Tuesday, Mahmood highlighted those under home detention curfews and ankle tags can easily be "locked up" if they break the terms of their detention.
"In some ways, punishment outside a prison can be even more restrictive than prison," she said, and went on to announce the government will lengthen the amount of time offenders spend under house arrest from six months to 12 months.
Mahmood also said the sentencing review would investigate whether longer sentences might "force them to engage with rehabilitation on the inside".
The review will also reconsider the risk-assessed recall review process, Mahmood continued.
She said this would mean that "lower risk cases can be considered for re-release after they have been recalled to prison for two to three months, where their further detention is no longer necessary to protect the public."
Some inmates have been celebrating as they're released from prison - on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent one prisoner said “big up Keir Starmer” as he was celebrating with his friends, mum and sister who picked him up in a convoy of a white Bentley and black Mercedes G-wagon outside of HMP Swaleside.
The 29-year-old told reporters he had been in prison for seven years for kidnap and grievous bodily harm of someone who owed money to his friend, and was leaving jail seven weeks earlier than planned.
Reacting to the celebrations, Downing Street said Starmer "shared the public anger at these scenes".
Many victims of violence and other offences are concerned about their safety, as so many prisoners are being released early.
Elizabeth Hudson's ex-husband was jailed after holding a knife to her throat, but she was sent a letter saying he'll be released early, potentially as soon as December.
"I've had lots of therapy for PTSD and all kinds of trauma, and I've worked really hard to get to a stronger, better place - this has derailed that somewhat", she told ITV's Good Morning Britain.
"The letter came totally out of the blue... it just blew everything apart", Elizabeth said.
Speaking in Parliament on Monday, Minister for Prisons Lord Timpson said that authorities are “as ready as we can be” for the release.
Lord Timpson also said that, although "not perfect," the implementation period for the emergency measure allowed steps to be taken to help reduce the risk of re-offending.
Eligible prisoners have been steadily leaving jails ever since the changes have taken place. The policy is expected to be reviewed within 18 months.
The prisons watchdog has warned it was “inevitable” that some inmates would re-offend as he branded the plan “risky”.
Challenged about the threat of re-offending, Lord Timpson said the time permitted to introduce the scheme “allowed prison and probation staff properly to prepare for release, helping us to reduce the risk of re-offending”.
“Planning for release includes having temporary accommodation for those at risk of homelessness, access to employment and continuity of mental health and substance misuse provision.”
He clarified that those released under the plans will be subject to strict licence conditions.
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He said: “If offenders break those conditions or commit further crimes, they will be punished and could be immediately recalled to prison.”
“We have inherited a system that is very difficult, in which far too many people are recalled. For the second SDS40 stage, we are as ready as we can be.
But he added: “With the SDS40, we have had more time to plan these releases. While eight weeks is not perfect, it is far better than the previous early release scheme – so we are confident that these links are there and are working.
“One thing that I am confident of, having been around prisons for so long, is that, when you have prisons that are so full, it is difficult to make everything work as well as it should do."
The prison population is increasing by 4,500 every year and the government has committed to creating 14,000 additional prison spaces.
It is also looking to foreign jurisdictions for ideas, such as in Texas where authorities have used good behaviour credits.
Punishments outside prison could involve using wristwatches or apps that “nudge” offenders to ask if they have complied with licence conditions, in addition to sobriety tags or home detention curfews.
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