Dozens of criminals freed early from Scottish prisons to tackle overcrowding returned to jail after reoffending
Dozens of criminals who were freed early from Scottish prisons under an emergency release system have reoffended and been returned to jail, it has emerged.
A total of 477 inmates were let out early in Scotland in four tranches over the summer to tackle overcrowding, with 57 returning to prison after committing further crimes.
A Scottish Prison Service (SPS) spokesperson said: "We have been open and transparent throughout, publishing the number of individuals released at each stage, followed by a series of breakdowns.
"The latest publication on returns to custody continues this approach."
Only inmates serving short sentences of under four years who had 180 days or less left to serve were considered for release.
Prisoners serving life sentences, or those currently behind bars for sexual, domestic abuse or terror-based offences, were automatically excluded from the scheme.
Prison governors also had the power to veto the release of any inmate they deemed an "immediate risk" to a specific individual or group.
Last month, First Minister John Swinney said the early release of prisoners had "not solved the situation" in regards to overcrowding.
Speaking before the Holyrood Conveners Group at the Scottish parliament, he said: "We still face a serious situation and I fully expect the justice secretary to have to come back to parliament to brief parliament about the current situation.
"Because although the release of 477 prisoners during June and July as part of the early release scheme has helped, it has not solved the situation.
"I suspect that will come back to parliament in due course and we are considering the options that are available there."
-SKY NEWS
