'Overcrowded' and 'set up to fail': Freed prisoners react to early release scheme
England and Wales have begun an early release scheme for prisoners to alleviate severe overcrowding in the facility system. While the government emphasizes monitoring, some former inmates and victims have expressed concerns regarding support systems and public safety.
Why it matters
The policy reflects the tension between managing prison capacity and ensuring effective rehabilitation and public protection.
Figure caption, Watch: Freed prisoners speak to the BBC as they are released early
As hundreds of prisoners across England and Wales are released early under a new scheme designed to free up prison space, some of those freed have told the BBC of the "hectic" conditions they are leaving behind - and their concerns about a lack of support waiting for them outside.
Around 700 offenders are expected to be freed with the first wave on Thursday, as prisoners serving sentences of up to 19 months become eligible for release after a third of their term.
The government has stressed they will remain subject to strict monitoring arrangements, including the expanded use of electronic tagging, and has said action was needed to prevent prisons from becoming full.
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