Promising start for early release scheme

Almost 200 prisoners now serving part of sentence at home

News, 22 August 2006

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The first four weeks of the Scottish Executive's home detention scheme have seen almost 200 convicted criminals serve part of their prison sentence at home, with only a minority failing to observe the terms of their release from custody.

The early release scheme is aimed at reducing Scotland's prison population and cutting reoffending rates. It allows those serving a sentence of between three months and four years to apply to serve the last weeks of their sentence at home, monitored by an electronic tag. Sex offenders and those who have previously breached licence conditions are among those ineligible for the concession.

So far fewer than 10% of those released early have failed to comply with the conditions of their orders, usually by interfering with the tagging equipment or not being home in time for the curfew. About seven men have been recalled to prison.

Bill McKinlay, the governor of Barlinnie Prison, said the scheme was beneficial because of the current overcrowding situation at the prison, and appeared to be working well. The prison currently has 53 prisoners released under the scheme but has refused over 100 applications for release.

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