SocietyEarly prisoner release scheme risks serious crime, probation chief warns

The chief inspector of probation for England and Wales has warned that releasing thousands of prisoners early could result in serious sexual or violent offences, or even murder. The government plans to release 5,000 offenders from October under new laws intended to ease overcrowding in prisons. The warning focuses on the pressure placed on probation staff, who supervise people after their sentences and check that release conditions are followed. The increased caseload could make effective monitoring more difficult.