ALMOST 400 more short-term prisoners are set to be released from February under SNP ministers’ latest move to tackle overcrowded prisons, it emerged today The Scottish Sun revealed last week how an emergency bill was set to be laid in Holyrood in the coming days - with inmates freed from early 2025. Advertisement 1 Prisoners serving sentences of less than 4 years could be released after serving 40 per cent of their sentence Credit: PA And today Justice Secretary Angela Constance confirmed plans to pass the law in the coming weeks then release between 260 and 390 inmates in three waves over six weeks from February. The Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill proposes prisoners serving sentences of less than four years - apart from those sentenced for domestic abuse or sexual offence - would be released after serving 40 per cent of their sentence, rather than 50 per cent at present.
It paves the way for the initial wave of releases, then all prisoners who meet the criteria then free earlier when they reach 40 per cent of their sentence. And the Bill will also give SNP ministers the power to release prisoners serving sentences of four years or more - such as killers - without parliamentary approval in future . Advertisement READ MORE POLITCS TOP OF THE CLASS? Scotland’s schools satisfaction levels revealed DOUBLE SHIFT SNP boss aiming to work as both MP and MSP once claimed it wasn't possible Ms Constance said: “Long-term action is necessary to deliver a sustained reduct.