The sentencing review commissioned by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood contains a raft of soft-justice measures designed to cut the number of criminals in our prisons.
Release violent prisoners earlier
Killers and rapists will be freed earlier, under proposals already adopted ‘in principle’ by Labour.
Criminals convicted of serious violence or sex offences should win their freedom after serving half their jail term, rather than at the current three-quarters point, the review said.
The lower automatic release date would apply to offenders sentenced to more than four years, including those convicted of ‘rape, manslaughter, soliciting murder, attempted murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm’. Only those who are well behaved in prison would be eligible.
