Domestic abuse survivors can’t be an afterthought in prison early release scheme

Survivors are once again being asked to carry the consequences of a system under pressure.

The Government’s decision to release some prisoners earlier than expected as part of efforts to address overcrowding in prisons has prompted a lot of discussion. The focus has largely been on numbers, prison capacity and public safety, and those conversations matter. But what we see, again, as we read the news and updates, is that domestic abuse survivors are being overlooked.

At Oasis, we support people every day who are rebuilding their lives after domestic abuse, stalking, coercive control and sexual violence. For many of them, hearing that their abuser could be released earlier than expected brings an immediate sense of fear and uncertainty. Over the past 2 weeks, we’ve already seen an increase in notifications from probation relating to offenders being released and heard concerns from survivors who are understandably worried about what these changes could mean for them and their families. It’s horrible, really. Their concerns aren’t an overreaction, nor are they unreasonable. They’re the reality of living with the impact of abuse.

The prison system is under significant pressure, with prisons running close to capacity, and victim safety must never become secondary. Both things are true at once.

Survivors often make plans for their safety, stability and recovery based on when they expect their abuser to be released from prison. It can influence housing decisions, childcare arrangements, employment, and simply being able to sleep at night knowing there is time and space to heal. When that timeline suddenly changes, the ground shifts beneath them. Please just imagine that panic for a second.

One of the hardest things about abuse is never knowing what might happen next. Early release brings back that same uncertainty. “Will my abuser find me? Will he respect licence conditions? Will agencies have the resources they need to respond quickly if me and the kids are at risk again?”

While we’re relieved that those convicted of rape and many child sexual offences are excluded from the prison early release scheme, it continues to concern and anger us that the harmful and lasting impact of domestic abuse isn’t fully recognised within discussions about offending and sentencing because domestic abuse doesn’t always fit neatly into a single criminal offence.

In recent years there has been important progress in recognising quite how severe coercive and controlling behaviour is as a form of abuse, not simply a relationship issue but a pattern of behaviour that can have devastating and long-lasting consequences. Survivors have fought hard for that recognition. Any policy that results in perpetrators being released earlier than expected is at odds with that progress, particularly if victims are left wondering what additional safeguards will protect them.

Reporting abuse takes enormous courage, and more often than not, pursuing a conviction is a long, traumatic and exhausting process. When domestic abuse offenders are released earlier than expected, what message does this send out to survivors? It minimises their experience of harm, and the justice they fought so hard for becomes diluted.

We know that prisons alone don’t prevent future abuse, so if we’re serious about reducing violence and keeping people safe, we need more than prison places. We need meaningful rehabilitation, effective perpetrator interventions and strong probation services, alongside long-term investment in preventing violence against women and girls, which the Government has committed to halving, before it happens.

Most importantly, survivors can’t be left to deal with the consequences of these changes on their own. That means clear communication about release dates. It means robust risk management and enforcement of licence conditions. It means ensuring specialist support services have the resources they need when survivors need help urgently. And it means listening to victims when they tell us what safety looks like for them.

Domestic abuse perpetrators should be excluded from the prison Early Release Scheme. At the very least, no release should take place without a proper individual risk assessment, direct communication with the survivor and clear, enforceable plans to keep them and their children safe.