The prison population in England and Wales has surged to a historic high of 88,521, prompting the government to implement a temporary early release scheme to address overcrowding.
Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle emphasized the need for effective management, stating, 'The last government closed loads of prison places and didn't replace any of them.' This highlights ongoing issues stemming from previous policy decisions.
Former chief inspector of prisons Nick Hardwick expressed concern about the ramifications of the early release policy, warning, '...it's a bit like squeezing a balloon - you release the pressure in one place but the bulge goes somewhere else.'
The upcoming early release scheme is intended to mitigate overcrowding, but there are alarming factors to consider as many released inmates may re-offend or end up homeless.
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