Bill set to end early release should be ‘torn up’

ACADEMICS have claimed a law that would end the automatic early release of long-term prisoners should be “torn up.”

The Scottish Government said it remained committed to its proposals as the safety of the public was an “absolute priority”, despite concerns from a series of experts who gave evidence to Holyrood’s Justice Committee.

Concern had previously been expressed that the plan would increase the risk to the public, as dangerous criminals who refused to engage in-rehabilitation programmes in prison would be released “cold” into the community with no supervision.

In response, Justice Secretary Michael Matheson brought forward proposals to ensure all prisoners who had been sentenced to four years or more would be subject to a period of compulsory supervision after release.

However, it failed to convince a panel of academics, who have argued for an overarching review of arrangements over release from prison at the same time as sentencing, to increase transparency over jail terms. Fears were expressed that the latest plan would amount to “automatic early release by another name”.

MSPs heard that there was little evidence that keeping criminals behind bars for longer would reduce risk to the public.

Professor Fergus McNeill, Professor of Criminology and Social Work at the University of Glasgow, said: “You can have populist democracy or deliberative democracy.

“In an area of policy as important as this, you need deliberative... not reactive to misrepresentation of current circumstances in the media.”

He added: “There is a fundamental problem with what’s before us.”

Lisa Mackenzie, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Howard League Scotland, said the the Government should “tear it up and start again and present an empirical base.”