The Scottish prison population hit a record high in November 2025 and there is no indication that numbers will go down. 

This is making conditions in our prisons extremely difficult. The current levels of overcrowding also restrict opportunities for rehabilitation and recovery, which reduce people’s risk of reoffending upon release, and help to build the safer communities we all want to see.

In response to this, MSPs in the Scottish Parliament have voted to approve a programme of Emergency Early Release. 

This means that some short-term prisoners (those serving less than four years), who are within 180 days of their liberation date, will be released earlier.

There are a number of exclusions. The following are not included in this programme:

  • Life, or order of lifelong restriction prisoners.
  • Untried.
  • Anyone with a conviction for terrorism.
  • Anyone liable to be removed from the UK or subject to extraditions.
  • Anyone subject to a supervised release order.
  • Registered sex offenders
  • Anyone serving extended sentences, or sentences for domestic abuse offences or aggravations.
  • Anyone subject to a non-harassment order.
  • Anyone who has previously served a custodial sentence following conviction of a domestic abuse offence or aggravation, where the conviction is not spent.

Governors also have the power to veto the release of anyone who poses an immediate risk to an individual or group.

I'm registered with the Victim Notification Scheme, will I be told if the offender's release date changes?

If there is a change to your offender’s release date under the Emergency Early Release programme, we will contact you to tell you. We will do this before they are released.

Where a telephone number is held for you, we will contact you by telephone. If we are unable to reach you by telephone and hold an address for you, we will send you a letter.

I'm not registered with the Victim Notification Scheme, how can I find out the release date of an offender?

You can still find out whether someone is going to be released early. To request this, you can contact our Victim Notification Team by: 

Phone: 0131 330 3664 (lines open Monday to Friday, 8am - 3pm).

Email: [email protected]

Our team will first confirm your eligibility with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, or the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, then provide you with the person's new release date by telephone or letter.

Alternatively, you can ask Victim Support Scotland or Children First to do this on your behalf.

Once we have checked your eligibility, your chosen support organisation will share the new release date with you.

Who is eligible to join the Victim Notification Scheme?

Accessing Support

There are many organisations in Scotland that can offer you help and support. Contact details for many victim support organisations can be found on our website.

Support for Victims