Nov 29 2007
Overcrowding leads to early release of prisoners
Scotland, Nov 29: Owing to the space limitation in jails the criminals including those convicted for violent crimes will be released even before their punishment period. This move was put forth by the financial secretary Kenny MacAskill as an attempt to restrict the overcrowding in Scotland’s jails that currently accommodates hundreds more prisoners than its full capacity.
This move from the financial secretary draw flak from victims’ groups and former member of the judiciary, they opined that the move will question the public faith in judiciary.
The change will allow serious criminals who are sentenced for imprisonment for the period of four years or more could be released six months earlier than normal. Those imprisoned for less than four years will be automatically released midway through their sentence.
The SNP expressed its views to extend the home detention curfew (HDC) to long term prisoners who are considered to be safe by the parole board. The move is expected to raise the number of prisoners released under the home curfew scheme to 400 as against 300 earlier.
“The measure would have to be approved by the Scottish Parliament and is expected to alleviate the problem of congestion in Scotland’s jails that are presently accommodating 1000 prisoners more than its full capacity. I am not ready to see our prisoners collapse due to overfilling. The government should have a clear vision and we have to deal this issue positively with immediate effect,” said MacAskill.
While commenting on this a spokesman of Victim Support Scotland, David Sinclair said: “We realised this as a grave problem but at the same time one thing has to be kept in mind that the deduction in punishment will lead to ruining of the public view towards judiciary and its verdicts. The public particularly the victims of crime will loose their faith in the system. The punishment should fit the crime.”
Extending the jail premises will be the correct way to solve this issue without any further controversy.
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