In a controversial move to address prison overcrowding, the government of England and Wales implemented an early release scheme, resulting in the liberation of approximately 1,750 inmates on September 12, 2023. However, the program faced immediate scrutiny when Amari Ward, a 31-year-old freed prisoner, allegedly committed a sexual assault within an hour of his release.
The incident reportedly occurred at Sittingbourne Station in Kent, merely 30 to 40 minutes after Ward left prison. He was subsequently apprehended in Croydon, south London, and appeared before magistrates on September 14, 2023, facing charges of sexual assault. Ward is scheduled to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on October 10, 2023.
This early release scheme, which allows prisoners to be freed after serving 40% of their sentences instead of the usual halfway point, aims to alleviate the pressure on the prison system. The prison population in England and Wales has nearly doubled since 1993, reaching its highest ever level in 2022 with over 85,000 inmates. An additional 1,700 prisoners are slated for release on October 22, 2023, as part of this ongoing initiative.
"Things will go wrong in the community and [some prisoners] will breach the terms of their licence."
Martin Jones, the Chief Inspector of Probation, had anticipated such issues, predicting that some prisoners would likely be recalled "within days or weeks" due to license breaches. His concerns seem to be validated by recent statistics, which show a 9% increase in prisoner recalls between January and March 2023 compared to the same period in the previous year.
The early release program has its roots in various schemes implemented since the 1960s in the UK. However, the current situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the prison system, which has a history dating back to the 12th century. Modern probation services, established in 1907, play a crucial role in monitoring released offenders.
While the scheme excludes sex offenders, terrorists, convicted domestic abusers, and those serving sentences for violence exceeding four years, it still includes individuals jailed for less severe violent offenses. This has led to concerns expressed by Charlie Taylor, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, who acknowledged that some released prisoners may pose a "high risk of harm" to the public.
The incident involving Ward has reignited debates about the effectiveness of early release programs and their impact on public safety. It also underscores the complex challenges faced by the criminal justice system in balancing prison population management with community protection.
As the case progresses, it will likely prompt further discussions about the need for comprehensive reforms in the prison and probation systems, as well as the implementation of more effective rehabilitation programs to reduce recidivism rates among released offenders.