SNP plans to restrict the automatic early release of criminals serving long-term jail sentences will cost the taxpayer an extra £17 million a year and see the prison population swell by hundreds of inmates.

 

The proposals, which will put an end to the current system which sees those jailed for four years or longer automatically released on licence two-thirds of the way into their sentence, have been criticised by experts who have said the law change is at odds with a commitment to reduce the number of people behind bars in Scotland's jails.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson, who will be grilled today over the Control of Release (Scotland) Bill by Holyrood's justice committee, said at the weekend that he wanted to build "the most progressive justice system in Europe" but came under fire after it emerged his proposals would see millions spent on locking people up for longer at a time when public finances are stretched.

While the Government has backtracked over its commitment to end automatic early release for all long-term prisoners and will instead set inmates not on extended sentences free on licence at least six months before the end of their jail term, fears were also raised that the period is insufficient to allow meaningful reintegration into the community potentially increasing the chances of dangerous criminals reoffending.

The Government has estimated that the proposals will see the number of prisoners rise steadily to an additional 370 inmates by 2030, with annual costs also rising from an extra £4.5 million a year in 2020 to £16.7 million within 15 years, largely as a result of the yearly £42,500 cost of keeping one person in jail.

Lisa Mackenzie, policy and public affairs adviser with the Howard League for Penal Reform Scotland, said she remained concerned that the Government was ploughing ahead despite a lack of evidence to back up its policy.

She added: "These proposals are at odds with the Scottish Government's aspiration to reduce the size of the prison population in Scotland. It is clear that ending the current arrangements for automatic early release for all long term prisoners will, over time, increase the size of Scotland's prison population.

"We note that the estimated costs of ending the current system of automatic early release for long term prisoners will rise from £4.545m in 2019/2020 to £7.253m in 2020/21 and £16.724m in 2030/31. In an era of financial austerity and constrained public finances, it is not clear how the Scottish Government will fund these extra costs."

After experts raised fears that the Government's original plan would lead to cases of 'cold release', meaning inmates may be let out of jail with no support or supervision, the proposals were changed. A new stipulation states that those not given extended sentences will be released on licence at least six months before the end of their term.

The change has led to claims that ministers are merely tweaking the current system rather than ending automatic early release as they promised.

Cyrus Tata, Professor of Law and Criminal Justice at the University of Strathclyde, said: "Originally, the stated aim was to abolish automatic early release. This was announced in September 2013... This overall aim was again announced, amidst considerable publicity, on 3rd February 2015.

"However, it is now apparent that the amendments mean that this Bill would not end automatic early release. It is important that, in an area which is already widely criticised for a lack of transparency, we are clear as to what is, and is not, being done now."

The Risk Management Authority, the body set up to protect the public from violent and sexual offenders, said six month supervision period would bring "challenges" and called for 12 months instead.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said that the policy was part of a wider approach that would also see a reduction in short sentences in favour of community payback orders.

She added: "Our reforms will end the current system of automatic early release at two-thirds point for all prisoners receiving sentences of four years or more and a minimum of six months supervision for all such prisoners leaving custody. Guaranteed supervision will mean some prisoners are released six months before the end of their term, but many long-term prisoners with extended sentences will now serve all of their custodial sentences in prison and not receive automatic early release at any point.

"We consider that six months supervision is appropriate to ensure prisoners reintegrate into the community and therefore help reduce reoffending behaviour."