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Major sentencing overhaul aims to reduce UK prison population by nearly 10,000
Sex offenders could be subjected to chemical castration and thousands of prisoners may be released early under sweeping new sentencing reforms aimed at tackling England and Wales’ prison overcrowding crisis.
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The plans, part of an independent review led by former justice secretary David Gauke, propose a “progression model” for inmates that would drastically shorten time served behind bars and shift the focus to community supervision and rehabilitation.
Key Proposals at a Glance
- Offenders on standard determinate sentences could serve only a third of their term in prison, with a third on licence and the final third unsupervised.
- Sex offenders and domestic abusers sentenced to under four years would be eligible for early release, based on sentence length alone—not offence type.
- A chemical castration programme, currently being piloted in southwest England, will be expanded to 20 prisons, with ministers considering mandatory application for eligible sex offenders.
- Short sentences would be reserved for “exceptional circumstances” amid evidence they increase reoffending rates.
Why the Reform?
The government aims to cut the prison population by 9,800 people by 2028, addressing the dire shortage of prison space and what Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has called a “failing system for lower-risk offenders.”
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