THE first prisoner out of Edinburgh’s tough Saughton nick was a violent robber released at around 9.30am.
The con – named Ian – was out just three weeks early from from a two-year stretch for assault and robbery.
Prisoners will be released in three tranches, with the first starting today[/caption]
He said: “I’m really happy to be out. I’ve been in for too long.
“I’ve just done two years for assault and robbery but the whole story was a fabrication.
“I’m only out three weeks early so it’s not much of a difference.
“Inside at the moment it’s not too bad to be honest.
“I am now going to go and sort my life out.”
One early release Barlinnie con told of his relief at getting out from a sentence for endangerment to life.
The 32-year-old who refused to give his name: “It’s grim inside and I’m glad to be out.”
He was one of eight prisoners who were liberated but some were not early release and had been let it through the normal release procedures.
They were all carrying prison issue black bags as they left the main entrance.
The first of up to 390 prisoners are being released early as the Scottish Government attempts to tackle overcrowding in the country’s prisons.
Emergency legislation passed by MSPs in November will change the release point for those serving prison sentences of less than four years from 50% of their sentence to 40%.
The Scottish Government said it expects the change to bring about a 5% reduction in the prison population.
Prisoners will be released in three tranches, with the first starting today and ending on Thursday.
The second tranche will take place from March 4-6, and the third will take place from March 18-20.
Those convicted of domestic abuse or sexual offences will not be released early under the changes.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said the release of prisoners was needed to battle the high prison population.
She said those being released were serving a “wide range” of sentences, including for violent crimes and crimes of dishonesty.
She told the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “It is fair to say that in terms of crimes of violence that is not an insignificant proportion of people serving short-term sentences.
“But the important point, and the raison d’etre of this legislation, is that we need to achieve a sustained reduction in the prison population that is necessary to ensure that our prisons can continue to accommodate those who pose the greatest risk of harm, and also to support rehabilitation in order to reduce re-offending.
“There is an inextricable link between the work that goes on in prisons and the safety of our community.”
