37 Prisoners Mistakenly Released Early Amid Overcrowding Crisis

A system error led to the wrongful release of inmates convicted under outdated legislation, with most now back in custody.

The Ministry of Justice confirmed that 37 prisoners were mistakenly released early due to their offences being logged under repealed legislation.
The error occurred under a new early release scheme aimed at alleviating prison overcrowding by reducing the time served from 50% to 40% of sentences.
Five of the mistakenly released prisoners are still at large, while the majority have been returned to custody.
The early release scheme was designed to exclude offenders convicted of domestic abuse, stalking, and other serious crimes, but a technical glitch led to the oversight.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is considering Texas-style reforms to reduce reoffending and manage prison populations more effectively.