Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the early release of 5,500 prisoners in September and October to address overcrowding in UK jails, with offenders serving 40% instead of 50% of their sentences. Excluded from the scheme are violent offenders with sentences over four years, sex offenders, terrorists, and domestic abusers. The move follows concerns of prisons overflowing, projected at 114,200 inmates by 2027, while the Howard League charity recommends a cap at 79,695 prisoners. Mahmood criticized the previous Tory government for mismanaging the prison system, leading to this 'emergency measure' and the need for a review into the capacity crisis. The decision aims to prevent a 'catastrophic disaster' and address the imminent crisis in the UK's prison system.