The wider impact of releasing prisoners early | Letters
Katie Kempen says victims are bearing the brunt of a broken prison system, while Frances Crook believes there are good reasons for early releaseHearing that their perpetrators may be released...
By Guardian Staff · The Guardian Opinion
Katie Kempen says victims are bearing the brunt of a broken prison system, while Frances Crook believes there are good reasons for early release Hearing that their perpetrators may be released months or even years earlier than expected will strike fear into the hearts of many victims and survivors ( Lack of safeguards over prisoners’ early release puts abuse victims at risk, Lammy warned, 8 July ). Worse still, unless eligible for the victim contact scheme , which few are, most victims have no way of finding out in advance if they are affected. Fixing the prisons crisis is essential, but victims and survivors must not be an afterthought in the government’s plan. A failure to get it right could irreparably damage victims’ sense of safety and trust in the justice system. Once again, victims are bearing the brunt of a broken system. Every victim deserves to be listened to, treated with respect and given the timely support and information they need. Katie Kempen Chief executive, Victim Support Continue reading...