Scots prisoners on short sentences to be released after serving just 40% of their time
Prisoners on short sentences in Scots jails will be released after serving just 40 per cent of their time in a bid to reduce overcrowding.
The controversial move was announced by Angela Constance, the Justice Secretary, after John Swinney had warned prisons were "bursting at the seams".
The reform will mean inmates banged up for less than four years will be eligible for release after 40 per cent of their sentence instead of the current 50 per cent. But prisoners locked up for domestic abuse or sexual offences will be excluded from the scheme.
Constance told MSPs she could not allow the prison population to rise to "unsustainable levels". More than 8,300 people are currently doing time in Scottish nicks, with the figure projected to rise even higher.
"Without intervention this would take us into an unsustainable position. We cannot allow that to transpire," she said.
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Constance added SNP ministers would follow the example of the UK Government in releasing short term prisoners earlier in a bid to tackle overcrowding.
"I intend to pursue a similar policy to change the point at which most short-term prisoners are released from the current 50% to after 40 per cent of their sentence has been served,” she said.
"This proposal would come with statutory exclusions in relation to domestic abuse and sexual offences, recognising the particular concerns which will arise in relation to such offences."
Constance added that SNP ministers had decided against an early release programme for inmates serving sentences of longer than four years.
"There was notable support for increasing the time some long-term prisoners spend in the community under supervision as part of their sentence, and recognition of the benefits this can bring," she said.
"However, there were also concerns that changing the long-term prisoner release point at pace would present significant practical difficulties.
"Given the need for any changes to take effect quickly, this prompted an exploration of alternative approaches."
Constance said she could also not rule out another round of emergency releases. Almost 500 inmates were freed early from Scotland’s prisons over the summer, with 57 having subsequently being sent back after reoffending.
Ms Constance said: “It is not my intention to ask Parliament to authorise the use of emergency early release again at this stage.
“However, I am aware that if it is necessary and there is no alternative, it may be needed.”
A new Bill will be required in Holyrood to make the changes, which Ms Constance said would be taken forward on an emergency basis, which could allow it to be passed in just three days by MSPs.
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