The Scottish government has unveiled plans to allow earlier releases for prisoners with short sentences as a response to rising prison populations. If approved, the new legislation would enable inmates serving less than four years to be released after serving 40% of their sentence, potentially affecting 260 to 390 prisoners by February 2025. Justice Secretary Angela Constance emphasized the need for the bill to ensure safe jail operations while noting that it would not apply to domestic abuse or sexual offense cases. Current prison numbers exceed capacity, highlighting critical overcrowding concerns.