Early release scheme being examined
Police officers, prison and probation staff, along with courts and tribunal, government and youth justice workers are being asked for their views on how well the scheme is working after scores of offenders – including violent criminals – had their sentences reduced in a bid to cut prison overcrowding.
The prisoner early release scheme survey is being carried out among justice sector staff to quantify the impact on workloads, effectiveness, stress levels and pressure demands after hundreds of convicts were granted early release.
Skills for Justice, a UK Government quango, wants to hear from workers directly involved to 'gauge how service demand and workloads across the justice system have been affected' and what could be improved as a result.
They say: 'The views of staff in policing, prisons, probation and more will be sought in order to explore how service demand and workloads have changed since the intervention and what may be improved in terms of workforce planning and training to help support them in their roles.'
Justice workers are being asked if they have personally experienced increased workload or demands, as well as if they feel additional training such as safety and security would help them to do their jobs more effectively.
They are also asked if they would welcome the introduction of a 'points based system' to replace the current automatic early release scheme.
Separately, a recent poll by Survation found a majority of Scots were against the early release of prisoners with 50% opposed and almost 30% 'strongly' opposed.
Only 28% of respondents were in favour of the policy with just 8% strongly supporting it.
While the early release scheme was intended to address overcrowding it has faced criticism over its impact on public safety and rehabilitation, with some arguing the policy is a 'quick fix' rather than a long-term solution to overcrowded jails.
The scheme involves prisoners sentenced to less than four years in jail with fewer than 180 days still to serve.
Some 477 were released early last summer and another 390 freed in three tranches earlier this year.
It emerged in September that the prison population was already higher than before the early release scheme kicked in.
Association of Scottish Police Superintendents – President Rob Hay
The Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS) has been among the scheme's harshest critics.
ASPS's president Chief Superintendent Rob Hay says: 'We have grave concerns about the early release of prisoners back into Scotland's communities.
'The public is being put at risk. Every crime committed and every victim who suffered at the hands of those criminals represent an avoidable consequence of this misguided Scottish Government policy.
'To release prisoners early, knowing further offending is likely to occur, piles pressure on a police service already stretched to breaking under unsustainable demand.'
Chief Supt Hay added: 'The only comfort I can offer the public is that where police officers encounter released prisoners who remain involved in crime, we will do all we can to ensure they end up back in custody, where they belong.'
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