Second wave of prisoners to get early release despite fears sex offenders included

[IwantToRetire]

A source close to justice secretary Shabana Mahmood has insisted that the second wave of early releases will go ahead with some criminals only serving 40 per cent of their sentence despite concerns being raised over public safety.
Former home secretary Dame Priti Patel led calls for the early release scheme to be suspended after raising issues about sex offenders and violent criminals being allowed out early.
Lib Dem justice spokesman Josh Babarinde had also tried to raise an urgent question in Parliament on the issue but his request was turned down by the speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/prisoners-early-release-sex-offenders-priti-patel-b2632979.html

1,100 more prisoners set for early release as minister admits recall rate ‘very high’
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/oct/22/prison-recall-rate-after-early-release-very-high-says-minister-england-wales

Women’s Aid comment on the release of over 1,000 more prisoners as part of the Government’s plans to ease overcrowding
https://www.womensaid.org.uk/womens-aid-comment-on-release-of-1000-more-prisoners-are-part-of-early-release-scheme/

The justice secretary said she did not think the return rate would be as high as 50%, the figure put to her by the BBC, but said: “The rates of recall are very high, and that is true. And the issue here is people are released on licence, they have strict licence conditions that they have to abide by. If they break those licence conditions, it is right that they are recalled to prison.
“So that shows that the system is working as it should. You know, you’re not just out and free. You’re serving the licence. You have to stick by those conditions. If you break them, you are recalled to prison.”
She said the statistics would not be available until later in the year but added: “What I can tell you is our early assessment is that the rates of recall and potential reoffending in the cohort that has been released as a result of the emergency release measures is broadly in line with what we would expect.”

That's quite the logic on display there. I get it but this is not feeling like a well-thought through and closely managed plan.

It seems a very expensive and risky way of freeing up prison space.

If the recall rate is close to 50%, it means they have to release 2 prisoners to free up each space, and deal with the additional crime and costs.

I wonder if this has been going on for a while - lots of prisioners are those recalled, and thats whats adding to to crisis?

As an ex-Probation Officer, I can say from bitter experience it was bloody hard work to get a recall signed off much of the time.

I write to a prisoner (sex offender) and he says that there is no chance that prisoners in his category would be released under this.

When you think of the money and effort it took to put these people in prison in the first place. This is not right. They should at least serve their full time tagged?

I’m sure I read that 30 odd prisoners released during September were released by mistake 🤔 let’s hope they don’t make a similar mistake this time!

And there is also the issue which was raised on the thread the first time this happened, is that those released have very little notice of it going to happen.

And for those who do not have a home to go to, and the small amount of money they are given on release, it is almost inevitable that they will resort to crime to survey. Even just shop lifting for food.

I saw 2 very miserable men who had been released today saying they had no idea where to go, or what to do.

I just dont understand if the last Government could build "Nightingale" hospitals during Covid, why isn't the Government looking at temporary prisons.

I suspect it isn't the money. Its knowing there aren't enough trained staff in prisons, and probation service. So easier just let prisoners lose to sink or swim.

Just dumping people on the street is crazy - and irresponsible.

Domestic abusers are ‘re-offending within days’ after early release from prison

Overstretched probation staff said they are overwhelmed by dealing with thousands of cases at once, and remain “terrified” they will get the blame if further serious offences occur.

Probation officers also told i that “loopholes” in Labour’s early release scheme means some of those with a history of violence and sexual offending have been released early.

Charity Women’s Aid said its warnings that “dangerous” perpetrators of domestic abuse would be allowed to “slip though the net” under the scheme have already materialised.

The charity said it was aware that some domestic abuse perpetrators had gone on to reoffend since they were released under the programme.

https://inews.co.uk/news/domestic-abusers-re-offending-days-early-release-prison-3376653

See Petitions Board:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/petitions_noticeboard

"Stop the Early Release of all Domestic Abusers Under the SDS40 Scheme"

Sausagenbacon · 22/10/2024 23:15

I write to a prisoner (sex offender) and he says that there is no chance that prisoners in his category would be released under this.

That's intriguing, do you mind if I ask why?

I write (anonymously) to 3 prisoners through a charity called New Bridge.

Sorry, that was an answer to a how, not a why.
This will probably come across as horribly pious but, as a Christian, I hear Jesus, when he separates the sheep from the goats, saying, among other things, 'did you visit me when I was in prison?'