Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this.
In the Guardian yesterday:
Opponents of plans to release rapists and sex offenders early from prison have “no solutions” to halt the criminal justice system’s possible collapse, David Lammy has said.
Under pressure from Labour MPs – including the former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips – to curb the early release scheme, the deputy prime minister said failing to implement it could leave no capacity across jails in England and Wales in November.
Killers, rapists and sex offenders will be among more than 5,000 prisoners freed early from September. They include those convicted of manslaughter, rape, grievous bodily harm and sex offences, who will be eligible for release halfway through their sentences rather than serving the current minimum of two-thirds of their term.
Scotland has faced similar overcrowding pressures and used early release measures, but with stronger exclusions for sex offenders and domestic abuse cases. Recent and ongoing changes do not mirror the England/Wales approach for serious/sexual offenders. Short-term prisoners, under 4 years, have seen release points adjustedfrom 50% to 40%, then further to 30% for many non-sexual/non-domestic cases in 2026. Sex offences and domestic abuse are explicitly excluded.
The Scottish prison population has continued to rise rapidly, reaching a new record high in March 2026. In response to this, the Scottish Government have voted to change the point of release for some Short-Term Prisoners. They will now be released at the 30% point of their sentence, instead of at the 40% point. However, it will not apply to short-term prisoners currently serving sentences for domestic abuse or sexual offences.
https://www.sps.gov.uk/family-and-friends/change-release-point-some-short-term-prisoners
The change will not apply to those serving sentences as a whole or in part for a domestic abuse offence (including those serving a sentence with a domestic abuse statutory aggravator), or sexual offences.
https://www.parliament.scot/~/media/committ/12704/Paper-3–Early-Release-Affirmative-SSI
Emergency releases in 2025 in Scotland also excluded sex offenders, domestic abuse, and those posing risks.
https://www.gov.scot/publications/prison-emergency-early-release-information-and-support-for-victims/ https://victimsupport.scot/news/emergency-early-release-support/
Discover more from The 'Unstoppable' Talking-up Scotland
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
The 'Unstoppable' Talking-up Scotland 