PRISONER RELEASES:

Special Purpose Licence (SPL) available for ROTL eligible prisoners falling in following vulnerable groups:

Organ transplant, cancer, severe respiratory conditions (cystic fibrosis, severe asthma/ COPD, rare diseases & receiving immunosuppressive therapies.

SPL is for a limited period of time until the current crisis is over & will be subject to recall at any time.

In most cases it is expected that SPL will be for remaining term of sentence for eligible people & release licence will be issued at the same time.

These SPL's are in addition to the 4,000 announced releases of low risk pregnant females, those in mother & baby units, & other low risk prisoners who reach 2 months left to serve (Coronavirus Restricted Temporary Release).

They are also in addition to the rarely used Early Release on Compassionate Grounds (ECRG)

The existing framework for ECRG is insufficient for current crisis, being typically available to those who are terminally ill (3 months to live) or experienced tragic family circumstances.

@PrisonersAdvice were instrumental in lobbying Secretary of State for new guidance in light of #covid19

http://www.prisonersadvice.org.uk/urgent-update-on-compassionate-release-cases-new-guidance/

Using existing Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) framework which includes SPL is a pragmatic approach to protecting the most vulnerable prisoners.

Offender Management Units, will coordinate with healthcare departments to identify prisoners requiring SPL.

All ROTL is at Prison Governors discretion.

Governors are superb at assessing suitability for Release on Temporary Licence (7500 - 8000 completed, 99.93% success rate)

Risk assessment is a comprehensive process & public protection is never compromised.

The full guidance "COVID-19: ROTL on Compassionate Grounds" is available at this link and contains extra priority groups that may be considered.

http://www.prisonersadvice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/COVID-ROTL-on-Compassionate-Grounds.docx

#supportprisonofficers

Thank you particularly to @PrisonersAdvice for all of your efforts in this regard + @PRTuk @TheHowardLeague @POAUnion, @PGA_Prisons as well as all the individuals & groups ( #prisonerspeopletoo), this will make an immeasurable difference to the most vulnerable people in prison.

In light of 75% staffing and the spreading virus, it is apparent that we still have a long way to go, a greater responsibility to keep people safe and to prevent deaths.

I hope that @RobertBuckland begins to see the logic of actually completing the...

Coronavirus Restricted Temporary Release programme to achieve release of the 4,000 already announced.

It is apparent that the 2 months early release for the proven lowest risk prisoners is not long enough to achieve the population reduction required.

Please note, the annual ROTL figure above said "7500 - 8000 completed, 99.93% success rate".

This should read 7500 - 8500 incidences of ROTL successfully completed each year.

@threadreaderapp unroll