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Published by The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill
Author: Kirsty Deacon
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Published: Tuesday 19 Nov 2024 (SB 24-53)
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Overview
Report
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Overview
Report
Summary
Introduction
Background to the Bill
Current legislative position
Automatic early release
Short-term prisoners
Long-term prisoners
Extended sentence prisoners
Indeterminate sentence prisoners
Prison population
Short-term prisoner population
Long-term prisoner population
Indeterminate sentence prisoners
Remand population
Other actions to manage the rising prison population
Emergency early release
Home Detention Curfew
Scottish Government consultation
Long-term prisoners
Short-term prisoners
Criminal Justice Committee - written evidence
Resources
Planning
Victims
Families of prisoners
Exclusions and risk management
Throughcare support services
Public confidence / knowledge
Presumption against short sentences
Permanence of provisions
The crisis in prisons report / UK Government response
Provisions of the Bill
Extension of early automatic release for certain short-term prisoners and certain detained children
Section 1
Section 2
Alternative approaches
Financial costs
Power to modify timing of automatic early release
Section 3
Financial costs
Consequential, transitional and transitory provision
Part 1 of the Schedule
Part 2 of the Schedule
Victim notification
Sources
Image: Chart 1: Total prison population, January 2019 to 1 October 2024
Image: Chart 2: Prison populations by overall sentence, 26 March 2020 to 1 October 2024
Image: Chart 3: Prison populations by overall sentence, 26 March 2020 to 1 October 2024
Image: Chart 4: Prison populations by overall sentence, 26 March 2020 to 1 October 2024
Image: Chart 5: Remand prison population, January 2019 to 1 October 2024
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Scottish Parliament. (2024). Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill [as introduced] Session 6 (2024) SP Bill 53. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/s6-bills/prisoners-early-release-scotland-bill/introduced/bill-as-introduced.pdf
Scottish Parliament. (2024, November 18). Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill: Explanatory Notes Session 6 (2024) SP Bill 53-EN. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/s6-bills/prisoners-early-release-scotland-bill/introduced/explanatory-notes.pdf
Scottish Parliament. (2024, November 18). Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill: Policy Memorandum Session 6 (2024) SP Bill 53-PM. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/s6-bills/prisoners-early-release-scotland-bill/introduced/policy-memorandum.pdf
Scottish Parliament. (2024, November 18). Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill: Delegated Powers Memorandum Session 6 (2024) SP Bill 53-DPM. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/s6-bills/prisoners-early-release-scotland-bill/introduced/delegated-powers-memorandum-accessible.pdf
Scottish Parliament. (2024, November 18). Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill: Financial Memorandum Session 6 (2024) SP Bill 53-FM. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/s6-bills/prisoners-early-release-scotland-bill/introduced/financial-memorandum.pdf
Scottish Parliament. (2024, November 18). Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill: Statements on legislative competence Session 6 (2024) SP Bill 53-LC. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/s6-bills/prisoners-early-release-scotland-bill/introduced/statements-on-legislative-competence-accessible.pdf
Scottish Government. (2024, October). Prison population projections: September 2024 edition. Retrieved from
https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/research-and-analysis/2024/10/scottish-prison-population-projections-september-2024-edition/documents/prison-population-projections-september-2024-edition/prison-population-projections-september-2024-edition/govscot%3Adocument/prison-population-projections-september-2024-edition.pdf
HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland. (2024, August). HM Chief Inspector’s Annual Report 2023-24. Retrieved from
https://prisonsinspectoratescotland.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publication_files/HM%20Chief%20Inspector%27s%20Annual%20Report%202023-24.pdf
Scottish Parliament Public Audit Committee. (2024, June 10). The 2022/23 audit of the Scottish Prison Service. SP Paper 613, 3rd Report, Session 6 (2024).. Retrieved from
https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/Committees/Report/PA/2024/6/10/ce9be3b7-008f-4d72-9ff1-1b174bfe0c60#Introduction
Scottish Government. (2024, July 8). Prison population: position paper. Retrieved from
https://www.gov.scot/publications/prison-population-action/
Scottish Government. (2024, October 10). Prison population - proposed bill on release point for short term prisoners: information note. Retrieved from
https://www.gov.scot/publications/prison-population-proposed-bill-on-release-point-for-short-term-prisoners-information-note/?s=09
Scottish Government. (n.d.) Scottish Prison Population Statistics. Retrieved from
https://www.gov.scot/collections/scottish-prison-population-statistics/
Scottish Prison Service. (n.d.) Prison population. Retrieved from
https://www.sps.gov.uk/about-us/transparency/data-research-and-evidence
Scottish Government. (2024, October 31). Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report : October 2024. Retrieved from
https://www.gov.scot/publications/safer-communities-justice-statistics-monthly-data-report-october-2024-summary-justice-safer-communities-statistics/pages/8/
Scottish Government. (2024). Prison emergency early release: veto guidance for governors. Retrieved from
https://www.gov.scot/publications/prison-emergency-early-release-veto-guidance-for-governors/
Scottish Prison Service. (2024). SPS Operational Guidance – Emergency Release. Retrieved from
https://www.sps.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2024-06/Emergency%20Release%20Operational%20Guidance%2011%20June%202024.pdf
Scottish Government. (2024). Reconviction Rates in Scotland: 2020-21 Offender Cohort. Retrieved from
https://www.gov.scot/publications/reconviction-rates-scotland-2020-21-offender-cohort/documents/
Institute for Government. (2024). The crisis in prisons. Retrieved from
https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/crisis-prisons#most-effective-options
Scottish Government. (2023). Victim Notification Scheme (VNS): independent review. Retrieved from
https://www.gov.scot/publications/independent-review-victim-notification-scheme/pages/1/
Last Updated: 19/2 9:59am
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