Most Scots oppose measures to release prisoners early from jail to deal with overcrowding, a new poll has revealed.
Only 28 per cent said they are in favour of the policy, which was introduced last year amid a capacity crisis behind bars.
Opposition politicians warned that court backlogs must be cleared to tackle the situation.
But the Scottish Government has insisted the prison population is “too high” and room must be made for criminals who pose the greatest risk.
Emergency legislation was passed in parliament which allows eligible inmates sentenced to less than four years to be released after serving 40 per cent of their term, with the first of up to 390 prisoners freed in mid-February.
A new poll by Survation for 1919 Magazine has found that 50 per cent of Scots oppose the policy – including nearly a third of respondents who said they are strongly against it.
Only eight per cent said they strongly support the early release of prisoners from jail.
Scottish Conservative justice spokesperson Liam Kerr said: “It is clear the public are growing increasingly sick and tired of the SNP’s soft-touch justice approach.
“Many of them back the common sense view that prisoners should serve their sentences in full rather than being recklessly let out early on the SNP’s watch.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur added: “It is no great surprise that the early release of prisoners is so unpopular with the public. The policy itself is the reflection of failure.
“For years, SNP ministers were warned that overcrowding was a disaster waiting to happen but didn’t do enough to address the problem.
“Early release can only ever be a temporary solution, which is why the government needs to take the steps necessary to prevent the same happening further down the line.
“That means getting serious about clearing court backlogs so that fewer people are stuck in prison waiting on a trial and investing in tough community sentences which can provide a credible alternative to imprisonment.”
On March 21 there were 8,149 people in custody in Scotland – down from 8,350 at the end of February, but an increase from 7,977 in March 2024.
Last summer it was announced that 477 inmates were released early under a scheme to ease overcrowding – with similar measures also introduced in England and Wales.
Victims can receive information about the prisoner in their case including the release date via the Victim Notification Scheme (VNS) or Victim Information Scheme (VIS).
However, it was reported last month following a Freedom of Information request by the Conservatives that only ten victims were notified in recent weeks under the VNS.
The government has said it continues to work with support organisations to raise awareness of early release and victims’ right to notification.
A Scottish Government spokesperson told 1919: “We have experienced a significant rise in our prison population in recent times, which is why we have taken a number of actions to tackle the issue.
“Without intervention, there is a risk that prisons will no longer be safe places for the dedicated staff to carry out the important work of rehabilitation to reduce reoffending.
“The Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Act has changed the automatic release point for most short-term prisoners from 50 per cent to 40 per cent of their sentence. The measures in this act will bring about a sustained reduction in the prison population as well as relieve some of the acute pressure currently being experienced within our prison estate.
“We need the prison system to focus on those who pose the greatest risk to the public and provide a range of support to help reduce reoffending and aid integration back into the community. This legislation is backed by both the Prison Officers’ Association and the Prison Governors’ Association.”
A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson added: “We have been managing an extremely high and complex population for more than a year, which continues to place significant pressure on our staff and the time available to them to do the important work in supporting people, building relationships, turning lives around, reducing the risk of reoffending, and creating a safer Scotland for all.
“We have delivered a programme of early release in a way which prioritises the safety and wellbeing of those in our care, victims, and the communities we serve.
“This has provided welcome respite but, as has been widely acknowledged, will not solve our population challenges on its own.”
Survation polled 1,012 Scots aged 16 and over between March 6 and 13.
Emergency legislation has been passed in Scotland to release prisoners early from jail to deal with overcrowding. To what extent do you support or oppose this policy?
Source: Survation