Displaying items by tag: early releases

The Government’s decision to release two thousand prisoners early next month to alleviate prison overcrowding has drawn significant criticism from Martin Jones, chief probation inspector. He warned that this move is fraught with risks due to the lack of resources available to monitor released offenders adequately. He feels that the Probation Service, already stretched thin, may struggle to prevent reoffending, leading to potential public safety issues. The early release scheme, announced by justice secretary Shabana Mahmood, reduces sentences 40% to 50%  for thousands of inmates, adding pressure to an overburdened probation system. Jones emphasised the inevitability of some reoffending, given the sheer volume of releases, and urged for rapid learning from mistakes when they occur. He also criticised the current lenient work-from-home policy for probation officers, highlighting its impact on accurate risk assessment. The Government, meanwhile, has announced plans to recruit one thousand extra probation officers by 2025, though they will not be ready before the early release measure ends.