MORE than 50 prisoners have "reoffended" and been returned to jail after being released early under the Scottish Government’s emergency release scheme, it has been revealed.
Regulations which had been laid at the Scottish Parliament in May confirmed 477 prisoners were eligible to be released in four waves from the end of June. Of the 477, 57 have been returned to prison after committing further offences.
Sky News reported the 57 inmates includes prisoners who have been charged and reconvicted, prisoners currently held for alleged crimes, and prisoners who have now been released after being remanded for an alleged offence.
READ MORE: Emergency measures announced amid Scottish prison 'crisis'
Prisoners who are serving a life sentence and those on the Sex Offenders Register were not eligible and exclusions also applied to prisoners subject to non-harassment orders or who have an unspent conviction for domestic abuse.
The report comes after nearly 40 people were released from prison by mistake under the Labour Government’s emergency release scheme this month.
A Scottish Prison Service (SPS) spokesperson said: "We have been open and transparent throughout, publishing the number of individuals released at each stage, followed by a series of breakdowns.
"The latest publication on returns to custody continues this approach."
Scotland’s Justice Secretary Angela Constance laid out the plans earlier this year, stating: “Emergency early release has become necessary to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Scottish Prison Service staff and those in their care as a result of the rapid rise in the prison population, creating an unprecedented situation."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel