Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced plans to ease prison overcrowding by imposing limits on the duration of some offenders’ prison sentences.
Under these changes, offenders recalled for breaching their licenses will be released after a fixed 28-day period. This approach aims to bypass the lengthy waits for parole board assessments before release.
However, Mahmood emphasized that despite the construction of new prisons, the government cannot simply “build our way out of this crisis.” She clarified that the change will not apply to those who commit serious further offenses or are deemed to pose a high risk.
The government is currently working on the construction of three new prisons later this year. However, they are facing a potential shortage of spaces for male offenders by November.
Mahmood also noted that changes from an upcoming review of sentencing, led by former Conservative minister David Gauke, are likely to be felt from spring next year.
According to the latest official weekly figures, the prison population stands at 88,087, while the useable operational capacity is 89,442. A government analysis released last year estimated that the prison population will increase to between 95,700 and 105,200 by March 2029.
