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| MSPs vote to end automatic early release | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| MSPs have passed legislation to end automatic early release for prisoners jailed for more than four years. | |
| Currently, offenders are automatically released after serving two-thirds of their sentence. | Currently, offenders are automatically released after serving two-thirds of their sentence. |
| The new legislation will allow parole boards to recommend that those serving long-term sentences spend their full term in custody. | |
| The bill was passed by 67 votes to none, with 46 abstentions. | |
| Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said he was delighted the bill had been passed. | |
| He said: "Today's decision means that long-term prisoners who pose an unacceptable risk to public safety will now serve their entire sentence in custody, and is a huge step in the right direction to end the system we inherited. | |
| "Prison will always be the right place for serious and dangerous offenders. With the passing of this bill today, together with our announcement earlier this week in relation to lower level offenders, we are seeking to achieve a more balanced justice system in Scotland. | |
| "One which ensures that our communities are protected from serious offenders whilst those offenders at the lower end of the scale serve out their sentences through effective community-based alternatives, with targeted support to help them overcome the underlying causes of their offending behaviour." | |
| 'Cold release' | 'Cold release' |
| Originally the Prisoners (Control of Release) (Scotland) Bill sought to end the practice of automatic early release for those serving more than 10 years and sex offenders serving more than four years. | |
| But, following parliamentary scrutiny, the Scottish government tightened the legislation to cover all prisoners serving time for serious offences. | |
| Experts had raised concerns about prisoners being released "cold" after serving all of their sentence in prison, rather than spending some of it supervised on licence in the community. | |
| In response, ministers brought forward an amendment which will see long-term prisoners released when they have six months left to serve, and then monitored in the community. | In response, ministers brought forward an amendment which will see long-term prisoners released when they have six months left to serve, and then monitored in the community. |
| The blanket six-month approach was backed by the Scottish Parliament's justice committee, but Labour wanted the bill to give courts more power to decide how long a released prisoner should be supervised for. Their amendment was voted down by MSPs. | |
| Elaine Murray, the party's legal affairs spokeswoman, said: "Scotland deserves better than a uniform approach to justice, we cannot treat every offender the same and this must apply when they return to the community. | Elaine Murray, the party's legal affairs spokeswoman, said: "Scotland deserves better than a uniform approach to justice, we cannot treat every offender the same and this must apply when they return to the community. |
| "It seems senseless that an offender sentenced to four years would be expected to be placed under supervision for the same length of time as an extremely violent or repeat offender, but that is what the bill currently proposes." | "It seems senseless that an offender sentenced to four years would be expected to be placed under supervision for the same length of time as an extremely violent or repeat offender, but that is what the bill currently proposes." |
| Delay call | Delay call |
| The Conservatives, who want to end automatic early release for all prisoners, argued the bill does not go far enough. | |
| They tabled an amendment calling for the legislation to be delayed which was rejected by MSPs. | |
| Justice spokeswoman Margaret Mitchell said: "The SNP committed to abolishing automatic early release, but instead has brought forward half-baked plans. | Justice spokeswoman Margaret Mitchell said: "The SNP committed to abolishing automatic early release, but instead has brought forward half-baked plans. |
| "These proposals do not go far enough - they do not end automatic early release, and only affect around 3% of prisoners." | "These proposals do not go far enough - they do not end automatic early release, and only affect around 3% of prisoners." |