1,200 ex-cons returned to prison amid reoffending increase

The Herald Scotland

11 hours ago

And a leading victim support charity has called on the Scottish Government to reform the "confusing" process.
In 2021, the Parole Board of Scotland recommended that the Scottish Government revoke the release licences of 241 people. That number also dipped in 2022, slipping to 226, before an increase of 19.5% in 2023 (270 people).
Last year, 285 people were sent back to prison, while 152 have been remanded during the first six months of 2025.
That is a total of 1,174 people.
The number of inmates in Scottish prisons averaged 7,860 in 2023/24, up 6% from the previous year. (Image: Colin Mearns) Meanwhile, 1,009 prisoners had been issued with release declarations or recommendations by the parole board between 2021 and 2025.
The figures reveal that 248 prisoners were paroled in 248, followed by 191 in 2022. The number rose by 18.8% to 227 in 2023, before rising again to 240 last year.
And in the first six months of 2025, 103 prisoners were paroled.
According to the parole board, the 1,174 recommendations made by the board include people who had been released from prison on a 'parole' licence, as well as those who were released automatically 'upon reaching their earliest date of liberation'.
However, Scottish Government ministers are permitted to revoke licenses without asking the board for a recommendation, which means the total number of reoffenders could be greater.
While the terms of parole differ for each inmate, all continue a standard set of conditions, which include acting in 'good behavior', agreeing to visits and remaining in contact with one's parole officer, and not committing any offence.
Kate Wallace, Chief Executive of Victim Support Scotland, told The Herald that the parole system could be 'vastly improved'.
She said: 'While we acknowledge that parole decisions are purely based on risk, we fully support any changes to the system to make it more victim-centred, transparent and trauma-informed.
"Victims often tell us they feel confused by the parole process and that they are not routinely informed when the perpetrator in their case breaches licence conditions. This presents them with a multitude of challenges, including their ability to plan for their own safety. People deserve to feel safe in their own homes and communities.
Victim Support Scotland has called for a rethink of the current parole system. Wallace added: "We look forward to the Scottish Government's upcoming consultation on parole which will give people impacted by crime a voice in strengthening this important process.
"In the meantime, Victim Support Scotland stands ready to support victims of crime at any stage of their journey, including helping them to navigate the parole system.
The Parole Board's Annual Report for 2023/24, explains how applications for release are assessed, noting:
'The Board only grants release in cases where the level and nature of risk are deemed to be manageable. This decision is informed by oral or written evidence in the form of witness evidence or, usually, reports contained in dossiers.'
However, in June, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) revealed that more than 150 violent offenders had been released in February and March 2025, in a bid to combat overcrowding in the prison estate.
312 inmates who had served 40% of their sentence were released over the two months, 152 of which had been imprisoned for violent crimes of a non-sexual nature.
Prisoners who have committed domestic abuse or sexual offences are not included in the early release provision.
At the time, the SPS said the number of incarcerated people in Scotland's prisons had reached a critical level.
"While these releases have provided some respite,' a spokesperson said, 'our staff continue to manage an extremely high and complex population, with eight prisons now at red risk status, and the number of people in custody set to rise even further.
"This has an increasingly destabilising effect on our establishments, with staff unable to do the critical work of building relationships and supporting rehabilitation, and prisoners frustrated by the impact on their daily lives and the opportunities available to them."
Read more:
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Reacting to the release of the figures, a Scottish Government spokesperson said:
'Decisions on individual cases are a matter for the independent Parole Board for Scotland. Their decisions, including those around recall, are based on a clear risk assessment of any individuals being managed safely in the community.
'The parole system could work better for everyone – hearing a wide range of views is essential to developing a more person-centred, trauma-informed system.
'That is why [we] have already committed to a public consultation on reform of the parole system. It will be informed by direct engagement with victims, justice partners, and those with lived experience, driving a parole system that is fair, transparent, and trusted.'