Hundreds more offenders to leave jail on Tuesday

Around 650 more offenders will leave jails in England and Wales on Tuesday in the third phase of the government's plan to end the prison population crisis. Under the new rules, they are leaving jail after serving no more than a third of their sentence behind bars, rather than a half. By the end of the year officials project that at least 2,500 will have been let out to spend two-thirds of their sentence on a licence in the community.

Tuesday's third stage continues the process of releasing batches of offenders serving increasingly long sentences - culminating next June with those serving more than 12 years. Some violent offenders convicted of wounding, grievous bodily harm with intent or lower-end firearms charges could also be released. Offenders convicted of one of more than 70 offences are exempt from the earlier release scheme, including manslaughter, rape, sexual and grooming offences and those on life terms.

Weekly prison population statistics show that the early release programme is having an impact - for now - on the population crisis inside jails.