UK Prison Overcrowding: Hundreds of Inmates Released Early to Alleviate Crisis
In a bid to address the severe overcrowding crisis in UK prisons, hundreds of inmates are being freed early to ease the pressure on the system. According to reports, 1,700 prisoners are expected to be released on Tuesday from jails across England and Wales, in addition to the 1,000 inmates normally freed each week. This move comes as the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures show the prison population has hit a record high of 88,521 on Friday.
The decision to release inmates early was made to avoid "unchecked criminality" where the police and courts are unable to lock anyone up due to a lack of available cells. Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor warned that some of these prisoners will likely get recalled to custody and face increased risks of reoffending due to inadequate preparation and homelessness.
Taylor’s comments came as he published his annual report, which highlighted the need for ministers to overhaul sentencing rules to accommodate the projected 27,000 additional prisoners expected by 2028. The report also detailed the "desperate" crisis of violence and drug use behind bars, as well as the lack of available rehabilitation programs.
Charities, such as the Howard League for Penal Reform, have criticized the early release scheme, saying it will only "buy a little time" and does not address the root causes of the problem. Andrea Coomber KC, the charity’s chief executive, called for a complete reset of the prison and probation system to address the "woeful education and training" and "squalor, self-harm, drugs, violence, and unmet mental health needs" plaguing the system.
The government has pledged to tackle the crisis head-on, with Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood stating that the temporary measure will give them time to set about long-term change in the prison system and build the necessary infrastructure to drive down reoffending rates.
