Hundreds of prisoners in England and Wales walked free on Thursday under a new early release scheme aimed at preventing jails from reaching capacity.

The first wave included about 700 offenders, primarily those serving sentences of up to 19 months. They are now eligible for release after serving one-third of their term rather than half. Officials expect roughly 4,500 prisoners to be freed in phased releases through June 2027.

Prisons stood at 98.2 percent capacity as of Monday, with 87,499 inmates and only about 1,500 available spaces. Without action, authorities warned the system would run out of room by Christmas.

The Sentencing Act, passed under Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government, adjusts release points for many fixed-term sentences. It excludes those convicted of rape, child sex offenses, grooming, manslaughter, and other serious crimes. Some domestic abuse and fraud offenders remain eligible in early waves.

This marks the latest in a series of measures. The previous Conservative government released more than 10,000 prisoners early between October 2023 and September 2024. The current plan builds on that approach while narrowing eligibility after public concerns.

Critics, including opposition figures, have warned the policy risks public safety by returning offenders to communities sooner. Released prisoners expressed relief upon leaving facilities such as HMP Brixton and HMP Durham, with some directly thanking the prime minister.

Probation services face added strain from the influx, and victims' groups have voiced fears over potential reoffending. The Ministry of Justice stated that released offenders will face the toughest supervision measures in British history.

Further tranches are scheduled in the coming months, expanding eligibility to longer sentences by mid-2027. The prison population has risen by over 1,700 since late June, underscoring ongoing capacity pressures.