The government has introduced the Early Release of Prisoners (Restriction) Bill, legislation that would restrict the circumstances in which prisoners serving sentences for serious violent or sexual offences can be released before the end of their sentence.
The bill is a response to public concern about several high-profile cases in which prisoners released under supervision have gone on to commit further serious offences. It would create a presumption against early release for prisoners convicted of specified serious offences, requiring the Parole Board to be satisfied that the risk of reoffending is minimal before release can be authorised.
The bill has been welcomed by victims' groups, who have long argued that the balance between the rights of prisoners and the safety of the public has been tilted too far in favour of prisoners. But it has been criticised by penal reform organisations, who argue that it will increase the prison population at a time when the system is already overcrowded and that it will reduce the incentive for prisoners to engage with rehabilitation programmes.
The government has said the bill is necessary to restore public confidence in the criminal justice system and to ensure that the protection of the public is the paramount consideration in decisions about the release of prisoners. The bill is expected to complete its parliamentary passage by the end of the year.
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