Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill: island communities impact assessment

Policy objectives

The Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill (“the Bill”) will change the point of release from prison for most people serving short-term sentences of less than four years. Currently most people serving short-term sentences are released unconditionally after serving half (50%) of their sentence in either prison custody (including Youth Offender Institutes) or secure accommodation. This Bill will change the point of release to following two fifths (40%) of the sentence being served. The change to release point will apply to adults in prison custody as well as to children who have been sentenced to a period in secure accommodation of under four years.

The aim of bringing forward the point of release for most short-term prisoners is to achieve both an immediate and sustained reduction in the prison population as part of a range of actions designed to ensure the prison service functions effectively, can accommodate those who pose the greatest risk of harm, and can support rehabilitation, in order to reduce reoffending and protect victims and public safety.

It is not anticipated that this Bill will have a differing outcome in the islands.