The Times UK - Prisoners may have to earn release under radical Texas-style reforms

Shabana Mahmood is considering scrapping automatic early release and forcing prisoners to work full-time in a drive to reduce reoffending and crime rates

Matt Dathan, Home Affairs Editor in Houston, Texas
Friday February 28 2025, 12.01am GMT, The Times

Prisoners will no longer be automatically released after a set period and will have to earn their freedom through “good behaviour credits” under radical Texas-style prison reforms being considered by the government.

Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, said she is also considering ways to force inmates to work full-time or face longer in jail.

She said she would “find a way” to ensure human rights legislation and other “obstacles” did not block the government from forcing prisoners to work.

The changes are part of her proposed reforms to create an incentive-based prison system and could lead to the biggest shake-up of sentencing laws for more than 30 years.

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