Fact check: Early prison release to exclude serious violent and sexual offenders
The Government is trying to open up space in the UK’s nearly full prisons.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A widely shared online post has claimed that the Government is “releasing violent criminals, murderers and rapists early”.
Another social media post suggested people “who were convicted of manslaughter, knife crime, robbery and sex crimes” would be released early.
Evaluation
The Government has said that people convicted of sex offences and “serious violent offences (resulting in sentences) of four years or more” will be among those automatically excluded from a scheme which will release inmates earlier in order to free up some prison capacity.
The facts
On July 12, the Ministry of Justice revealed there were “only hundreds of places left in the adult male (prison) estate”.
In an attempt to create more space in jails for the newly convicted, the Government said it would “temporarily” reduce the proportion of some sentences served in prison.
Under the scheme, the minimum time served for some less serious offences will drop from 50% of the custodial sentence to 40%, with safeguards and exemptions to keep the public safe.
The Government said: “Sentences for serious violent offences of four years or more, as well as sex offences will be automatically excluded.”
It added: “The early release of offenders in prison for domestic abuse-connected crimes will also be excluded.”
Links
Gov.uk – Lord Chancellor sets out immediate action to defuse ticking prison ‘time-bomb’ (archived)