Holyrood Approves Early Release of Prisoners to Address Overcrowding

The Scottish Parliament has approved the early release of prisoners to address pressures on the prison system. MSPs backed the regulations, under which around 514 eligible prisoners will be released in four tranches from June 26. At the meetings on June 5 and June 12, Scotland’s Criminal Justice Committee took oral evidence and subsequently considered a motion to approve the early release of prisoners. The proposals were passed on Wednesday by 66 votes to 47, with five abstentions. Justice Secretary Angela Constance told the committee that the significant rise in the prison population had triggered the need for “immediate and urgent action.” She noted that the prison system is facing challenges across the whole country, with Westminster and the leadership in Wales taking similar actions....