Overcrowded and in poor condition, Britain releases thousands of prisoners from their cells

Many of Britain's prisons are in poor condition and overcrowded. Due to lack of space, the British government released 1,700 prisoners early. This action may jeopardize their rehabilitation.

To make room in overcrowded prisons, 1,700 prisoners are being released earlier in Britain. The London government justified this measure on the grounds that the police and courts no longer had room to detain anyone and that otherwise crime would be rampant.

Currently, there are almost no vacancies in the detention centers. The regulations provide that some prisoners can be released after serving 40 percent of their sentences. Normally, you must have served at least 50% of your sentence before you can be paroled.

Hundreds charged after riots

Currently, the British justice system is strictly pursuing the rebels, who during last summer's far-right and anti-Muslim riots in several cities, also attacked police officers and shelters for asylum seekers, set fire to vehicles and looted shops. More than 200 people have already been sentenced, most to prison terms. Hundreds of other indictments are pending.

A judge recently ruled that lower courts in England and Wales - known as Magistrates' Courts - should, where possible, postpone the dates on which people can be sent to prison.

The government blames its predecessors

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Social Democrat government admitted it was "extremely difficult" for victims to learn their attackers would be released before serving their sentences. "This is another difficult, tough, but necessary step we are taking," a government spokeswoman said. According to her, the crux of the problem is that the previous Conservative government did not create enough prisons.

Furthermore, according to official documents, conditions in some prisons in England and Wales are themselves worrying. Some buildings date from the 19th century and have never been modernized. Many detention centres, such as the one in London's Wandsworth, are constantly overcrowded and, the BBC reports, infested with vermin.

Helpers warn of many exceptions

Not all prisoners are eligible for early release. Prisoners for terrorism, sexual offenses, domestic violence and serious crimes will not be released, the government has emphasized.

For those who will be released, the Probation Service has taken action, police secretary Diana Johnson told the BBC. "People will be released on bail and can go back to prison if they commit further crimes."

However, aid organizations committed to combating domestic violence have warned that there are many exceptions. Even in the past, it would not always have been possible to accurately screen released offenders and prevent them from committing further acts.

Aid organizations: Release can compromise rehabilitation

Other activists have criticized the fact that many young people, in particular, are released without receiving help to find work or housing. "As a result, the release program risks compromising rehabilitation and increasing the rate of recidivism if it is not accompanied by appropriate support and effective reintegration", emphasized the organization Switchback.

The Law Society spoke of a pragmatic decision. "Given the deplorable state of our prisons, this is certainly not an ideal measure," President Nick Emmerson said. "But it provides more time and space to find long-term solutions to the many problems that plague our criminal justice system"./ DW