Short-term prisoner release
Information on the change to automatic early release dates for some short-term prisoners.
Overview
The point at which some prisoners sentenced to less than 4 years in prison (short-term prisoners) are released has changed.
From May 2026, some short-term prisoners can be released after serving 30% of their sentence instead of 40%.
The rule change does not include prisoners serving sentences:
- for sexual offences
- for domestic abuse offences
These prisoners will still need to serve 50% of their sentence before they can be released.
We are making these changes to sustainably manage the prison population. This will help ensure prisons can focus on those who pose the greatest risk of harm, and support rehabilitation to reduce reoffending.
We are working with victim support organisations to make sure victims can access information and support.
Contact
Email: contactus@gov.scot