About this survey

The prisoner early release schemes (ECSL and SDS40) were introduced in the autumn of 2024 to relieve demand pressures on prisons, with many across the country nearing full capacity.

So far more than 5,000 prisoners have been released, creating additional demand for justice services such as probation, but also for policing and rehabilitation services, who themselves are already understaffed.

Now, over 6 months on since the beginning of the early release schemes we want to assess the impact of the policy across the entire criminal justice system.

Probation workers in a meeting

Your survey responses will help us to better understand the skills and training needs of criminal justice sector and help us to continue to support employers with their skills development and workforce planning.

Anonymised findings from the survey will also be communicated in the media to help raise awareness of further opportunities for training and workforce planning and feed into ongoing policy evaluation work.

Police officer

Survey FAQs

What is the early release scheme?

The government introduced prisoner early release schemes (ECSL and SDS40) in the autumn of 2024.

The policy is intended to relieve pressure on prison places, with many UK prisons nearing full capacity.

This survey is primarily intended to capture the experiences of those working in the criminal justice system e.g. policing, prisons, probation, courts, youth justice and rehabilitation.

The examples listed are not exhaustive and we welcome responses from anyone working in a role adjacent or that comes into contact with the criminal justice system in some capacity.

Survey responses will help us to better understand the skills and training needs of criminal justice sector and help us to continue to support employers with their skills development and workforce planning.

Findings from the survey will also be communicated in the media to help raise awareness of further opportunities for training and workforce planning and feed into ongoing policy evaluation work.

By default all responses to the survey are anonymous.

Respondents do have the option to provide their contact details should they wish to be contacted about the results of the survey at a later date.

The survey form includes an option to opt in to further communications regarding the findings of the survey. Alternatively, you can sign up to our newsletter or follow Skills for Justice on social media.