By Gemma Fraser
Head of content
Around two thirds of prisoners leaving Scottish jails under the early release scheme are homeless when they are freed – sparking fears they are being “set up to fail”.
Community justice organisation Sacro has issued the stark warning as almost 1,000 inmates are due to be released between now and April to help ease prison overcrowding.
This follows the release of almost 800 prisoners in previous tranches of the scheme.
Sacro helps prisoners prepare for their release through its Upside service, but said its ability to do so is “significantly curtailed by the compressed timescales” and “volume of people” in the early release programme.
Many prisoners are, as a result, being released without adequate support on the outside – including around two thirds who do not have suitable housing.
David Kidd, head of policy and engagement for Sacro, told 1919: “The added pressure of homelessness makes everything more difficult and just contributes to setting people up to fail.
“The issue is obviously compounded by the fact that 13 local authorities have declared housing emergencies in the last year, we’ve got a national housing emergency as well, and that makes it very difficult for local authorities to manage additional numbers, never mind when we’re talking about the significant number of people that are being released as part of this early release process.
“The added pressure of homelessness makes everything more difficult and just contributes to setting people up to fail”
David Kidd, Sacro
“That means there’s that many extra people coming into an already overwhelmed system.
“The types of accommodation that are available to people at short notice are generally not particularly suitable anyway.
“We’re talking about hostel-type accommodation where there are lots of people all in very similar circumstances under one roof, where there are lots of issues with drug and alcohol use and other things that contribute to that revolving door nature of prison, homelessness services, drug and alcohol services – and people not being able to get the right support at the right time for the right needs and not having a secure base to work from.”
The latest Scottish prison population statistics published in November show the number of people arriving at prisons with ‘no fixed abode’ has increased from 496 in 2015/16 to 1,315 in the most recent year.
In 2024/25, 11.4 per cent of arrivals to prison were people of no fixed abode, according to the data.
A Sacro spokesperson said: “Our chief concern is the impact this limited pre-release time has on people’s ability to access essential supports on release, and the resulting increased risk of reoffending because of poor outcomes.
“Around 70 per cent of those being released in the first tranche of EER [emergency early release] have requested Upside support. Of these, just over a third are known to be returning to a tenancy, with the remainder either recorded as homeless or staying with family or friends.
“This alone presents a significant challenge, but stable housing is just one area of concern. Unemployment, poor health, substance use, financial issues and family relationships are all key factors to be addressed if we hope to achieve successful reintegration.”
Sacro believes the situation will not improve until community-based alternatives to custody are increased.
“Community-based alternatives are a vital part of the solution, offering practical routes to rehabilitation that address these issues in the community rather than behind bars,” the spokesperson continued.
“Scottish and international evidence consistently shows that well-resourced community sentences achieve lower reconviction rates than short prison terms, while delivering better outcomes for individuals, families and communities.”
Upside’s throughcare service receives £5.3m annual funding from the Scottish Government.
“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 support integration back into the community”
Scottish Government
A Scottish Government spokesperson told 1919: “Upside provides invaluable one-to-one mentoring support for eligible individuals on remand and on sentences of less than four years to help them to reintegrate back into the community.
“The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is in regular contact with local and national partners to address any problems that arise, and to adapt the arrangements for future stages in the release process.
“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 support integration back into the community.
“Whilst we will always need prison, the evidence shows that community sentencing can be more effective in combatting reoffending than short sentences.”
An SPS spokesperson said: “We are working hard, alongside our partners Upside, to support people as they prepare for early release and return to their communities.
“Individualised release plans are made in advance, taking into consideration their housing, healthcare, welfare, travel, and other needs, to ensure, as far as possible, that those leaving custody have the necessary support in place.
“Many individuals return to their previous homes and families, and others are provided with new residencies through local authorities, but if this isn’t possible, we support Upside to consider alternatives.”