Second wave of early prison releases begins in England and Wales

Around 650 offenders have been freed early in the second phase of Britain's plan to ease prison overcrowding, as probation officers prepare for a strike ballot.

• Some 650 offenders serving up to two and a half years were released Tuesday, after a first batch of 700 left on 1 October.
• Napo probation officers held a pre-ballot meeting; a strike ballot on pay and workloads launches on 19 October.
• The Ministry of Justice said released offenders face the "toughest supervision in British history," including electronic tagging and restriction zones.
• Victims' commissioner Claire Waxman said the government's confidence in the plan is not matched by reality on the ground.
• The government trimmed the early-release scheme from 6,000 places after an intervention by Andy Burnham.
• Around 2,000 inmates are due for release this month, followed by 3,000 more over the next year.
• The prison population has risen by 2% since June to 87,499 as the early-release programme continues.
• Reports said around 5,000 early-released inmates have not received electronic monitoring tags, raising public safety concerns.
• Prisons in England and Wales run at about 98 percent capacity, prompting the government to build new facilities and speed deportations.