Kilmarnock prisoners released early as part of coronavirus emergency

The inmates were released early to help make jails safer during the pandemic.

A total of 17 prisoners have been released early so far from Kilmarnock’s jail as part of the COVID-19 emergency.

Nine inmates from South Ayrshire; eight from North Ayrshire and three from East Ayrshire were freed in total across Scotland.

The first early releases took place on Wednesday, May 6 to help make jails safer during the pandemic.

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) revealed 154 inmates have left 13 prisons early. None of them had any coronavirus symptoms.

Only those serving a sentence of 18 months or less and who were within three months of their release date were considered. Convicts jailed for life or who have committed sexual crimes or terrorism offences were excluded; 23 eligible prisoners were not allowed out, however, because they posed an immediate risk of harm to a person.

More than 230 more people are due to be considered for release – and they are due to leave prison by Monday, June 1.

An SPS report said: “The Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 provides new powers for the early release of a specific class of prisoners held in Scottish prisons.

“Early Release has been deemed necessary in order to provide SPS with additional operational capacity including allowing for a greater use of single cell occupancy, keeping prison staff and the people in their care safe.”