Post by ۞Quaalude™۞ on Jun 19, 2007 14:27:19 GMT -5
Some inmates serving jail terms of four years or less will be released early to ease prison overcrowding in England and Wales, Lord Falconer has said.
It would mean about 1,200 prisoners being released up to 18 days early on licence, he told the House of Lords.
It would not include those convicted of serious sexual or violent offences, the justice secretary added.
He also said 1,500 new prison places would be created - the first of these available from early 2008.
His statement comes as the prison population breaks the 81,000 barrier for the first time.
The Conservatives condemned the plan to release prisoners early. Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said the public could be at risk. Lord Falconer said work to construct 500 of the new prison places would start "immediately". These are in addition to 8,000 places already announced which are expected to be built by 2012.
Lord Falconer told the Lords the emergency measure would come into force on 29 June.
"This is a temporary measure," he said. "Release on licence is not the same as executive release. Releasing people on licence means their sentence continues."
It would not include foreign nationals would who be subject to deportation at the end of the sentence or those who had previously broken the terms of their temporary release.
The use of police cells may have to continue until the end of this year, he added.
Last month, Lord Falconer said he would not use early release to ease pressure.
Ministers have been loath to introduce any form of early release, fearing it would dent public confidence in the justice system. QC
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6766119.stm
On Monday, the Prison Governors Association said convicts should be set free a week early to give the system some "breathing space".
It would mean about 1,200 prisoners being released up to 18 days early on licence, he told the House of Lords.
It would not include those convicted of serious sexual or violent offences, the justice secretary added.
He also said 1,500 new prison places would be created - the first of these available from early 2008.
His statement comes as the prison population breaks the 81,000 barrier for the first time.
The Conservatives condemned the plan to release prisoners early. Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said the public could be at risk. Lord Falconer said work to construct 500 of the new prison places would start "immediately". These are in addition to 8,000 places already announced which are expected to be built by 2012.
Lord Falconer told the Lords the emergency measure would come into force on 29 June.
"This is a temporary measure," he said. "Release on licence is not the same as executive release. Releasing people on licence means their sentence continues."
It would not include foreign nationals would who be subject to deportation at the end of the sentence or those who had previously broken the terms of their temporary release.
The use of police cells may have to continue until the end of this year, he added.
Last month, Lord Falconer said he would not use early release to ease pressure.
Ministers have been loath to introduce any form of early release, fearing it would dent public confidence in the justice system. QC
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6766119.stm
On Monday, the Prison Governors Association said convicts should be set free a week early to give the system some "breathing space".