Thousands of prisoners in British jails were set to be released early on Tuesday as part of a government effort to alleviate overcrowding.
According to recently disclosed numbers, England and Wales’ prison population has reached its all-time high.
However, due to concerns about recidivism, the government stipulated that no violent felons or domestic abusers be eligible for early release.
Report says, it was “a difficult decision” to release the 1,700 detainees.
Downing Street stated that the approach was necessary to prevent “unchecked criminality,” in which newly convicted offenders were spared jail sentences because there were no spots available.
Reynolds blamed the previous Conservative government, which was defeated in July, saying the decision “should have been made prior to the election” but that it “had given up on governing”.
“Of all the scandals we inherited, I think the prison system, the justice system, is probably the worst of all,” he told reporters.
Martin Jones, Chief Inspector of Probation, told BBC Radio that jails were under “extreme” pressure.
“It’s the highest population we’ve ever seen in this country. Prisons are absolutely close to 100 percent capacity.
“My understanding, as of yesterday there is a couple of 100 spaces remaining.”
Jones warned that it was a “certainty that some will reoffend”, highlighting that around a third of people released from prison each year go on to commit further offences within a year.
Reynolds insisted that “no violent offenders, no domestic abusers will be eligible” for early release, adding that “we’ve put those greater protections in place”.
The prison population has swollen in recent months by those convicted of taking part in anti-immigration riots across England.
The government has said those involved in the unrest would not be excluded from the early release plans.
