Eight prison ‘lifers’ given temporary release with wrong risk assessment
Eight prisoners serving life sentences were granted temporary release from prison with the wrong risk assessment score following a software glitch, the justice secretary has confirmed.
Keith Brown said all of the 285 open cases of incorrect risk assessment scores – which inform decisions made by justice system professionals on whether to grant parole, early release or progression through the prison system – had returned no “live” concernsaboutpublicprotection.
The justice secretary had told MSPS last week that up to 780 prisoners received incorrect risk assessment scores due to an IT systems glitch, with around 500 being linked to closed cases, and the open cases covering those who were still being managed by professionals within the system.
Speaking to Holyrood’s criminal justice committee, Mr Brown said the minister for community safety had approved temporary release of eight prisoners serving life sentences.
Under regulations put in place in 2011, those on a life sentence, who are otherwise barred from temporary release, can apply for a “first grant of temporary release” (FGTR) to the Scottish Government and must receive the consent of the community safety minister, currently Ash Regan.
The justice secretary sought to reassure MSPS of the lack of immediate risk to the public, stating of all 285 open cases “not one is giving us rise for any issues in terms of public protection”.
The Government said it could not break down the nature of offences which other cases were linked to.
Mr Brown added: “If you go through 285 cases and not a single one gives you cause for public protection concerns in the views of the experts that have looked at it, that is a good sign.”
Scottish Conservative community spokesperson Russell Findlay said it was “shocking” that eight life prisoners were
released with incorrect risk assessments.
He said: “These are among the very worst criminals in our society, and it is unacceptable
that this grave error was ever allowed to happen. The SNP ministers who approved these releases must apologise. Their decision to approve wrongly-assessed
life prisoners for releaseundoubtedlyputmembers of the public at risk."