The Scottish government is considering a policy change that would allow long-term prisoners serving four years or more to be automatically released early. The proposal, currently out for consultation, is part of a broader effort to reduce the nation's prison population.
Justice Secretary Gray stated that the proposed change would help reintegrate prisoners into society. "This is about managing how we are releasing individuals back into the community, regardless of the heinous or horrific crime that they may have committed," Gray said. He emphasized that these are determinate sentences, not whole-life orders.
Under the current rules, which were changed in February 2016 by the administration led by Nicola Sturgeon, prisoners who are refused parole are typically released six months before their sentence ends. Previously, up until early 2016, these prisoners were automatically freed after serving two-thirds of their sentence.
The proposed shift aims to revert to the earlier system of releasing prisoners at the two-thirds mark of their sentence. This move has drawn criticism from victims' groups, who are calling for assurances that sex offenders and individuals convicted of violent crimes will not be eligible for early release.
One notable case that has amplified concerns is that of PC Harper, a 28-year-old police officer who died in 2019. He was killed when he was dragged behind the getaway car of three teenagers who had fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Berkshire. Victims' advocates argue that such cases highlight the potential risks of early release policies.
The Scottish government is presenting these changes for public consultation before the Parliament's summer recess, seeking to find a balance between managing prison capacity and addressing public safety concerns.