• Education
    • Higher Education
    • Scholarships & Grants
    • Online Learning
    • School Reforms
    • Research & Innovation
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Home & Living
    • Relationships & Family
  • Technology & Startups
    • Software & Apps
    • Startup Success Stories
    • Startups & Innovations
    • Tech Regulations
    • Venture Capital
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cybersecurity
    • Emerging Technologies
    • Gadgets & Devices
    • Industry Analysis
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy
Today Headline
  • Home
  • World News
    • Us & Canada
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Middle East
  • Politics
    • Elections
    • Political Parties
    • Government Policies
    • International Relations
    • Legislative News
  • Business & Finance
    • Market Trends
    • Stock Market
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Corporate News
    • Economic Policies
  • Science & Environment
    • Space Exploration
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife & Conservation
    • Environmental Policies
    • Medical Research
  • Health
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • Medical Breakthroughs
    • Fitness & Nutrition
    • Pandemic Updates
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Olympics
    • Motorsport
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV & Streaming
    • Celebrity News
    • Awards & Festivals
  • Crime & Justice
    • Court Cases
    • Cybercrime
    • Policing
    • Criminal Investigations
    • Legal Reforms
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World News
    • Us & Canada
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Middle East
  • Politics
    • Elections
    • Political Parties
    • Government Policies
    • International Relations
    • Legislative News
  • Business & Finance
    • Market Trends
    • Stock Market
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Corporate News
    • Economic Policies
  • Science & Environment
    • Space Exploration
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife & Conservation
    • Environmental Policies
    • Medical Research
  • Health
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • Medical Breakthroughs
    • Fitness & Nutrition
    • Pandemic Updates
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Olympics
    • Motorsport
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV & Streaming
    • Celebrity News
    • Awards & Festivals
  • Crime & Justice
    • Court Cases
    • Cybercrime
    • Policing
    • Criminal Investigations
    • Legal Reforms
No Result
View All Result
Today Headline
No Result
View All Result
Home World News Us & Canada

Scotland frees hundreds of inmates as U.K. grapples with prison overcrowding crisis

February 18, 2025
in Us & Canada
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
0
Scotland frees hundreds of inmates as U.K. grapples with prison overcrowding crisis
3
SHARES
6
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

LONDON — Hundreds of prisoners will be freed in Scotland as part of a broader emergency response to ease the burden of overcrowded prisons across the United Kingdom.

“We have been managing an extremely high and complex prison population for more than a year, putting considerable pressure on all those living and working in our establishments,” a Scottish Prison Service spokesperson told NBC News on Tuesday via email, after the first of almost 400 prisoners were released.

Scotland’s prisons housed almost 8,000 prisoners every day in 2024 — a 6% increase on the previous year, according to its government statistics.

“In line with trends seen elsewhere in the U.K., Scotland’s prison population has significantly grown in recent years and, consequently, this rise has impacted prisons and the wider justice system,” a Scottish government spokesperson told NBC News on Tuesday.

Scotland is part of the United Kingdom but, like Wales and Northern Ireland, has its own semi-autonomous government with broad powers over areas including health care, education and law, meaning its government can unilaterally decide to free the prisoners without seeking the consent of the British Parliament in London.

The prison population across the U.K. was just more than 97,000 people in March 2024, according the most recent British government data which projected that number to grow by around 4,500 every year while prisons remained “almost full,” it stated.

In response, the U.K. government last year launched a major review over its sentencing laws and allowed judges to sentence offenders to house arrest. It also freed more than 1,700 prisoners across England and Wales in September.

Under emergency legislation passed last November, Scottish inmates sentenced to less than four years are eligible for early release after serving 40% of their term, unless convicted of domestic abuse or sexual offenses.

This means between 260 and 390 short-term prisoners are set to be freed over a six-week period starting Tuesday.

The new legislation, which came into effect Feb. 11, will “bring a sustained reduction to prisoner numbers so the prison estate can continue to function effectively,” the government spokesperson said.

The early release is expected to reduce the prison population by 5%, although the government has also acknowledged the new law is not a complete solution to overcrowded jails.

Another 470 Scottish inmates were released early from prison last August, but 61 ended up back in custody before their original planned release date, according to Scottish Prison Service data.

“While not a complete solution, this Act will bring sustained reduction to prisoner numbers so the prison estate can continue to function effectively,” Scottish Justice Secretary Angela Constance stated in a press release in January.

But the early release could be “distressing for victims of crime” and “raise questions and cause concern,” Constance added.

In response, the Scottish Police Service has urged victims to sign up for a joint scheme with Victim Support Scotland, a charity that provides support to those affected by crime, so that they will be notified if their offender’s release date changes.

The charity told NBC news in a statement Tuesday that there had been “no improvements” to the main mechanism intended to inform victims since the new legislation was passed.

“The last time prisoners were released early, only 2% of victims were notified,” said Kate Wallace, Victim Support Scotland’s chief executive.

She added that the early release would have a “profoundly damaging impact on victim confidence and trust in the justice system” if the number of victims contacted did not increase this time.

The spokesperson for Scottish Prison Service said it would work with the government and the justice sector to look at “all possible actions which will deliver a manageable population” in its prisons.

Support and rehabilitation of prisoners would continue to reduce “their risk of reoffending, and helping to build safer communities across Scotland,” he added.



Source link

Tags: crisisfreesgrapplesHundredsinmatesovercrowdingprisonScotlandU.K.
Previous Post

Democrat: Vance used ‘same language’ as Hitler did to ‘justify’ Holocaust

Next Post

Doctor-Induced Medical Conditions That Cause Malpractice Lawsuits

Related Posts

U.S.-China talks 'a bit stalled' and need Trump and Xi to weigh in, Treasury Secretary Bessent says

U.S.-China talks ‘a bit stalled’ and need Trump and Xi to weigh in, Treasury Secretary Bessent says

May 30, 2025
3
Chicago risks severe cuts to transit. Its poorest suburbs could be hit even harder

Chicago risks severe cuts to transit. Its poorest suburbs could be hit even harder

May 30, 2025
3
Next Post

Doctor-Induced Medical Conditions That Cause Malpractice Lawsuits

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Family calls for change after B.C. nurse dies by suicide after attacks on the job

Family calls for change after B.C. nurse dies by suicide after attacks on the job

April 2, 2025
Pioneering 3D printing project shares successes

Product reduces TPH levels to non-hazardous status

November 27, 2024

Hospital Mergers Fail to Deliver Better Care or Lower Costs, Study Finds todayheadline

December 31, 2024

Police ID man who died after Corso Italia fight

December 23, 2024
Harris tells supporters 'never give up' and urges peaceful transfer of power

Harris tells supporters ‘never give up’ and urges peaceful transfer of power

0
Des Moines Man Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend's Mother

Des Moines Man Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend’s Mother

0

Trump ‘looks forward’ to White House meeting with Biden

0
Catholic voters were critical to Donald Trump’s blowout victory: ‘Harris snubbed us’

Catholic voters were critical to Donald Trump’s blowout victory: ‘Harris snubbed us’

0
Track-and-field final in spotlight for rule change after trans athlete's success

Track-and-field final in spotlight for rule change after trans athlete’s success

May 30, 2025
Farm ministry starts accepting applications for older rice from small buyers

Farm ministry starts accepting applications for older rice from small buyers

May 30, 2025
Sentence for ex-Goldman banker in 1MDB case ‘too short’: Malaysian minister

Sentence for ex-Goldman banker in 1MDB case ‘too short’: Malaysian minister

May 30, 2025

US court finds enough evidence to proceed with Grifols lawsuit against Gotham City

May 30, 2025

Recent News

Track-and-field final in spotlight for rule change after trans athlete's success

Track-and-field final in spotlight for rule change after trans athlete’s success

May 30, 2025
0
Farm ministry starts accepting applications for older rice from small buyers

Farm ministry starts accepting applications for older rice from small buyers

May 30, 2025
4
Sentence for ex-Goldman banker in 1MDB case ‘too short’: Malaysian minister

Sentence for ex-Goldman banker in 1MDB case ‘too short’: Malaysian minister

May 30, 2025
4

US court finds enough evidence to proceed with Grifols lawsuit against Gotham City

May 30, 2025
4

TodayHeadline is a dynamic news website dedicated to delivering up-to-date and comprehensive news coverage from around the globe.

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Basketball
  • Business & Finance
  • Climate Change
  • Crime & Justice
  • Cybersecurity
  • Economic Policies
  • Elections
  • Entertainment
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Environmental Policies
  • Europe
  • Football
  • Gadgets & Devices
  • Health
  • Medical Research
  • Mental Health
  • Middle East
  • Motorsport
  • Olympics
  • Politics
  • Public Health
  • Relationships & Family
  • Science & Environment
  • Software & Apps
  • Space Exploration
  • Sports
  • Stock Market
  • Technology & Startups
  • Tennis
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Us & Canada
  • Wildlife & Conservation
  • World News

Recent News

Track-and-field final in spotlight for rule change after trans athlete's success

Track-and-field final in spotlight for rule change after trans athlete’s success

May 30, 2025
Farm ministry starts accepting applications for older rice from small buyers

Farm ministry starts accepting applications for older rice from small buyers

May 30, 2025
  • Education
  • Lifestyle
  • Technology & Startups
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2024 Todayheadline.co

Welcome Back!

OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Business & Finance
  • Corporate News
  • Economic Policies
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Market Trends
  • Crime & Justice
  • Court Cases
  • Criminal Investigations
  • Cybercrime
  • Legal Reforms
  • Policing
  • Education
  • Higher Education
  • Online Learning
  • Entertainment
  • Awards & Festivals
  • Celebrity News
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Health
  • Fitness & Nutrition
  • Medical Breakthroughs
  • Mental Health
  • Pandemic Updates
  • Lifestyle
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Food & Drink
  • Home & Living
  • Politics
  • Elections
  • Government Policies
  • International Relations
  • Legislative News
  • Political Parties
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Cybersecurity
  • Emerging Technologies
  • Gadgets & Devices
  • Industry Analysis
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Motorsport
  • Olympics
  • Climate Change
  • Environmental Policies
  • Medical Research
  • Science & Environment
  • Space Exploration
  • Wildlife & Conservation
  • Sports
  • Tennis
  • Technology & Startups
  • Software & Apps
  • Startup Success Stories
  • Startups & Innovations
  • Tech Regulations
  • Venture Capital
  • Uncategorized
  • World News
  • Us & Canada
  • Public Health
  • Relationships & Family
  • Travel
  • Research & Innovation
  • Scholarships & Grants
  • School Reforms
  • Stock Market
  • TV & Streaming
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy
  • About us
  • Contact

© 2024 Todayheadline.co