The government's plan to release prisoners early to ease the prisons crisis must not overlook victims and survivors, according to campaigners. Katie Kempen, chief executive of Victim Support, warned that hearing perpetrators may be freed months or years earlier than expected will strike fear into many victims. She noted that most victims have no way of knowing in advance if they are affected, unless eligible for the victim contact scheme, which few are.
Victims left in the dark
Kempen stated: 'Fixing the prisons crisis is essential, but victims and survivors must not be an afterthought in the government’s plan. A failure to get it right could irreparably damage victims’ sense of safety and trust in the justice system.' She added that victims are once again bearing the brunt of a broken system and deserve timely support and information.
Arguments for early release
Frances Crook, former CEO of the Howard League for Penal Reform, countered that early release has benefits. She clarified it is 'earlier' release, not 'early' release, as prisoners would normally be released partway through their sentence. She listed three good reasons: first, serving a full term inside means release with no supervision or possibility of recall, potentially putting victims at greater risk. Second, early release provides a period of supervised reintegration after dire prison conditions. Third, prison sentences have been grossly inflated over the past 30 years, and earlier releases bring sentences back to a reasonable term.
Crook argued that prisons are doing more harm than good and called for radical change. 'Something must be done about prisons and sentences. Earlier releases are expedient, but not an answer. The government must be brave and honest with the public,' she said.
