The UK government has initiated an early release scheme to address severe overcrowding in prisons, enabling the release of over 1,700 prisoners on the first day and potentially up to 84,000 over 18 months. This scheme permits inmates to be freed after serving 40% of their sentences, excluding those convicted of serious violent crimes, sex offenses, and terrorism. The initiative, spearheaded by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, aims to avert a crisis, as the prison population recently hit a record high of 88,521. Critics, including MPs and prison officials, warn of potential risks such as increased reoffending and inadequate support for released individuals. The government acknowledges the measure as a temporary fix and calls for long-term solutions to the prison overcrowding issue.