Jail overcrowding means overspill to fill open prisons

It was believed that when push came to shove, John Reid would have no option but to put prisoners not deemed suitable for open conditions into open conditions. He said at the time that it was a chance he was prepared to take with public protection. In the meantime, the Home Office was split and the responsibility for prisoners is temporarily in the charge of Lord Falconer at the Ministry of Justice. He has decided to follow the Home Office plan, and prisoners will now receive a watered down risk assessment to ensure that they are able to fill the 500 empty spaces in open prisons. The Independent has the story here.