The British government has announced that, as part of a plan designed to reduce overcrowding in prisons, approximately 1,750 prisoners will be released early, excluding those convicted of sexual offenses, serious violence, terrorism, and certain domestic abuse-related crimes.
Under this measure, offenders sentenced to less than 5 years in prison will be released after serving 40 percent of their sentences instead of half.
'RISK' WARNING REGARDING EARLY RELEASE
Charlie Taylor, the Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales, warned in a statement to Sky News that the early release of offenders in this manner would be "risky."
Pointing out that approximately 2,000 more people are expected to be released next month, Taylor said, "This will inevitably bring some risks to local communities and put more pressure on already strained probation services."
HIGHEST LEVEL OF ALL TIME
The claim that the British government might rent prison space in the Baltic country of Estonia due to the critical levels of prison occupancy had previously come to the agenda.
The number of prisoners in England and Wales, which was approximately 40,000 in 1991, reached an all-time high of 88,521 last week. Last month, there were only 83 spaces left in male prisons across England and Wales.
News Source: 12punto
