Today, around 1,700 convicts are walking out of prison in England and Wales after 40% of their sentence, as part of the government's early release scheme aimed at freeing up capacity.

Here's what you need to know before we close this page:

• The early release scheme was an "emergency decision," said business secretary Jonathan Reynolds, blaming the previous government
• There is a "risk of some re-offending," the inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor told BBC News
• Martin Jones, probation inspector, said the service is under a "huge amount of pressure"
• The union for probation workers said some people convicted of domestic violence and sexual offences are being released early - despite government assurances - but the Ministry of Justice denies this

• And prisoners who have been released have described the conditions inside jails - with one calling the cells "disgusting"

Thanks for reading our coverage. This page was edited by Sam Hancock and Owen Amos. Your writers were Imogen James, Adam Durbin, Christy Cooney, and Tinshui Yeung.

And here's some more from the Napo statement - it says that sexual offenders are being released early, despite government guidance.

"Members have shared examples where those with both domestic violence offences and sexual offences have been released because of this," says Napo General Secretary Lan Lawrence.

"When this has been challenged members have been directed to HMPPS [prison and probation service] guidance which has stated that the early release is correct and cannot be challenged.

"Members are extremely disappointed that this has been denied during several media appearances by government ministers and we have been challenging this in our media engagement.

"We call on the government to correct the record."

In response, the Ministry of Justice points out eligibility for the scheme is based on the offence, not the offender, and that offenders may be released early from their sentence for a lesser offence when they have previously completed a sentence for a sexual or violent offence.

We've been hearing from the union for probation staff, Napo. It says the early release scheme merely shifts the problem from "one place to another".

The scheme, Napo adds, has already "exponentially increased workloads" for probation staff preparing for the convicts' release.

"Staff in the Probation Service do not feel that their work is valued or understood by those who make decisions at the highest levels of the service," says Napo General Secretary Ian Lawrence.

Napo urges the government to increase funding, ensure workloads enable risk management and rehabilitation, and give greater protection for probation staff.

Polly Bayfield
BBC Newsbeat

Ex-prisoner Jason was released earlier this year, rather than today, and he has been telling me about the journey once you’re out.

The 23-year-old was in prison for drug-related crimes and left on tag after spending about three years inside.

He says he is currently at risk of becoming homeless and adds that after the initial feeling of happiness, reality hits.

“You haven't got a lot of resources… I haven't got any drug money around me or anything like that,” Jason tells me.

“I've just been scrambling… trying to convince landlords to take housing benefits. There are lots of people in the same position as me, where without hope this is really horrible.”

Jason thinks more needs to be done to rehabilitate prisoners and sees the early release scheme as a positive thing.

“I see it as people that are ready to add to the workforce.

“The goal of people going to prison is to release them into society rehabilitated. We need to address that and not shun it.”

Imogen James
Live reporter

As prisoners are released early across England and Wales, some people are worried that victims are not being told about their perpetrator's exit from prison.

Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said on BBC Breakfast this morning that "victims have been informed where it's relevant to them".

Some victims can apply to the Victim Contact Scheme - which gives victims information about their offender during the sentence. But domestic violence charity Refuge say this is "insufficient" as it only covers serious sexual or violent offences, where the offender receives a custodial sentence of 12 months or more.

We earlier reported that Mel Stride, shadow work and pensions secretary, said that some victims, even in cases of serious assault, have not been informed.

And Helen Newlove, victim's' commissioner, told us that despite assurances victims would be informed, "this has not been possible in every case".

When putting these claims to the Ministry of Justice, they told us that "we have been forced into taking difficult but necessary action".

The government committed to, external not releasing those sentenced to serious violent offences of four years or more, as well as sex offences, and domestic abuse connected crimes.

Elizabeth Hudson was attacked by her ex-partner in April 2021. He was sentenced to six years and three months, but could be released as early as December as part of the early release scheme.

She was informed but "felt sick" by the news. One of his convictions was for non-fatal suffocation - this charge has been listed by the government as one to be excluded from early release.

Levi Jouavel and Naresh Puri
Reporting from HMP Wandsworth

So far today we’ve seen around 25 people leaving the gates of HMP Wandsworth.

One prisoner was greeted by a group of 15-20 friends playing music and drinking champagne.

Another said he can't wait to "get a McDonald's".

But it’s not happy days for all. One person who’s been released early says he’d rather stay in prison.

“I like it in there. Nice warm cell, three square meals a day, a TV, a kettle."

He says he has nowhere to go after being released and plans to sleep on a park bench tonight.

Dominic Casciani
Home and legal correspondent

A stable home is crucial to integrating offenders back into their communities and a stable crime-free future. All the evidence shows this - it’s indisputable.

So, in theory, every offender leaving prison must have somewhere to go. But it’s not that straightforward.

If someone has no family to go to, the state in theory steps in and provides accommodation. There’s a system to guarantee 84 nights' accommodation to any offender who is homeless.

But in practice we know from statistics - see the graphic - that many offenders end up homeless.

The government’s wording in the last few weeks has emphasised how much hard work probation services have done to find accommodation - but it has never made itself a hostage to fortune and guaranteed that everyone will have a bed tonight.

And this is the fear of many working in the sector - that the releases will lead to homelessness - and that will lead to recalls to prison for breaches of licence.

Meghan Owen
Reporting from Wormwood Scrubs

One man I’ve spoken to was waiting for his stepson, who had served 18 months of a sentence of just under four years for a drugs offence.

The man had served in this prison himself. He calls it “very overcrowded”, with inmates often spending 23 hours a day in their cell - eating, sleeping, and going to the toilet in the one room.

He said it was a lot cleaner than it used to be, but there are still cockroaches and rats.

“Treat people like dogs, lock them in a cage, they’re going to act like it,” he says.

He said that, once released, his stepson would be living with his mother while wearing a tag, and that he believed having accommodation was the biggest factor in successful rehabilitation.

“You’ve got somewhere to put your head at night, that’s the main thing,” he says.

Steve Jones
Reporting from Leeds Prison

I speak to 70-year-old Andrew outside Leeds Prison while he waits for his 29-year-old son to be released, just six weeks into a nine-month sentence.

Andrew, a retired careers adviser, says his son is addicted to heroin and crack cocaine and has been in prison for drug-related offences.

“He only said to me on the phone just yesterday that he will have to start shoplifting again if he can’t get his benefits sorted out,” says Andrew.

“From a parental point of view, you sort of think ‘Is a safe place for him being in an institution rather than out on the street?’. It’s a dilemma.

“He’s not been in any sort of trouble for the last 10 years, then heroin kicked in a year ago and he’s been in prison three times.

“You try your best to help as a parent, but there comes a time when they have got to want to change.”

Some of the prisoners released from Leeds Prison on Tuesday are greeted by hugs and smiles from their loved ones.

Meanwhile, others simply hop into a car with a clear bag full of their possessions and look to get away as quickly as possible.

None are willing to talk about their experiences inside the Category B prison.

Tom Edgington
BBC Verify

Some released prisoners will “certainly” reoffend, Martin Jones the chief inspector of probation told the BBC earlier.

So what do the statistics tell us?

Between July-September 2022, about 21,000 of the 79,000 offenders (adults and juveniles) in England and Wales offended again within a year of being released - according to the latest official statistics, external.

That’s a 26.5% reoffending rate – and a 1.3 percentage point increase from the same period in the previous year.

A reoffender is included in the statistics if they commit a crime that leads to a court conviction or caution within a year of their previous offence.

Theft was the most common reoffending crime among adults (31%).

Navtej Johal
Reporting from HMP Nottingham

Connor Charlesworth, 24, was in prison originally for shoplifting, then on a 14-day recall after missing a probation meeting.

"It's good for me because, like, I'm not a violent criminal" - but he says if it was more serious he thinks people should be kept in.

"I'm so happy you don't understand... I think it's a good thing," he says, smiling. He tells me he's being kept away from his family and his kids.

And on the conditions in there, he says "every cell was full," and that as soon as capacity is free, the space is filled again.

He tells me he "needed it to get my life sorted, and now "I'm on track".

Navtej Johal
Reporting from HMP Nottingham

Ben Griffin, 30, spoke to me outside HMP Nottingham today. He was convicted for two counts of actual bodily harm and assaulting a police officer.

He was sentenced to 46 weeks and is being released 114 days early.

"They're giving you a chance to get out, to prove yourself, so that's what I want to do," he says.

"I'm not coming back."

He tells me it's "fair enough" that people are angry over early releases and he doesn't think "it's fair".

He is a "bit nervous" about leaving, but is going to see his family and sort his drug testing out.

And to the victims of his crime, he says he is sorry.

In prison he says it was "really horrible, the cells were falling apart. It was disgusting."

Meghan Owen
Reporting from Wormwood Scrubs

I spoke to one man waiting for his brother, 36, to be released from HMP Wormwood Scrubs after serving 19 months of a 3.5 year sentence for drugs offences.

He told me he was really excited to see his brother, the first thing he’ll do is "give him a hug, go home to our mum’s and get some food together".

He told me the early release scheme has been good for his family "but I don’t know if I agree with everybody being released early - especially for more serious crimes."

As the first wave of offenders given early release continue to leave prisons across of England and Wales, we've been hearing politicians, charities and prisoners themselves give their verdict on the policy.

Here's a snapshot of what's happened today:

• Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons in England and Wales, told BBC Breakfast that despite the "risk" of re-offending, the "government had absolutely no choice" other than to implement early release
• The probation service is already "significantly stretched" and will be greatly affected by the early release scheme, according to Martin Jones, the chief inspector of probation - who said "about a third" of prisoners being let out will re-offend

• The government has said domestic abusers and other violent offenders will not be released and, earlier, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said victims had been informed of their offender's release "where it's relevant to them"
• However, both Tory MP Mel Stride and victims' commissioner Helen Newlove suggested victims had not been informed. "Victim safety must remain the absolute priority," Newlove said in a statement
• Domestic violence charity Refuge described the government's Victim Contact Scheme - which lets victims know about their offender's release date, on an opt-in basis - as "inadequate" for the scope of victims it covers
• Meanwhile, BBC reporters outside prisons across the country have spoken to people being let out. One man said he'd have "happily" served his full sentence and apologised to his victim, while another said the prison he'd been in - HMP Liverpool - was "chokka"

In its 2021 Spending Review, external the then Conservative government said it would build an extra 20,000 prison places in England and Wales "by the mid-2020s".

But only about 6,000 have been built.

The chief civil servant in the Ministry of Justice wrote in July last year, external that only £1.1bn of the £4bn committed to this prison building programme had been spent.

One of the obstacles has been the planning system and local objections to new prisons.

The Labour government says it wants to continue building the remaining prison places but has not said when they will be completed.

How do you feel about the government's early release scheme?

If it's safe to do so, please get in touch - we'd like to hear your thoughts on this policy.

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In some cases a selection of your comments and questions will be published, displaying your name and location as you provide it unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published.

Emma Glasbey
Reporting from HMP Wealstun

I've been speaking to a man at a bus stop outside HMP Wealstun.

He tells me he was sent to prison for domestic abuse and was convicted of assault and threats to kill.

He was sentenced to 28 months and expected to serve 14 months, he says, but he's been released early after 13 months.

From here, he's going to see his probation officer to find out if he has any accommodation. He tells me he'll never return to prison because he'll never offend again.

• For context: Before today, the government said that the early release of some offenders - a scheme designed to reduce prison overcrowding - would not include people sentenced for serious violent offences of four years or more, as well as sex offences and domestic abuse connected crimes. We're asking the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for more information about this.

Navtej Johal
Reporting from HMP Nottingham

I've been outside HMP Nottingham since 9am this morning.

There’s been a steady trickle of about 20 prisoners being released - some of them as part of the government's early release scheme. Some of them, however, say they don’t know if they’re part of it or not.

They’ve been walking out of the main doors carrying their belongings in clear plastic bags, accompanied by a probation officer.

I spoke to John Price, 34, who says he's serving a six-and-a-half-month sentence for actual bodily harm - he’s been released four days early. He says his message to his victim is that he’s "sorry".

On the early release scheme, he says: "It is what it is. I would’ve happily stayed there for the rest of the time if I had to." And on conditions in prison, he says they're "terrible" and "there’s loads of violence".

Accommodation has been arranged for Price, he tells me, and he’s hoping to go back to work.

As we've been reporting, a government minister said earlier that victims have been told of their offender's release "where it's relevant".

This likely forms part of the Victim Contact Scheme, external, which applies to victims of serious sexual or violent offences and where an offender is jailed for 12 months or more.

It's run on an opt-in basis and victims are given support through liaison officers. They can decide how much information they want, including when the prisoner will be released or if they're moved from a closed prison to an open one.

Domestic violence charity Refuge has called the scheme "inadequate" for the scope of victims it covers, saying an "estimated 10% of cases that result in a 12 month or less sentence are related to domestic abuse".

• Remember: Prisoners eligible for the government's early release scheme have served 40% of their fixed term sentence, rather than 50%. The guidelines also state that those who are in jail for serious violent offences with sentences of four years or more, as well as sex offenders and those convicted of domestic abuse, are not eligible.

We've just received a statement from Baroness Helen Newlove, the victims' commissioner for England and Wales, who says not every victim has been told about their offenders' early release.

She says she sought assurances that "all impacted victims" would be informed of early release dates to do with this scheme - but "I understand this has not been possible in every case".

"I am concerned about the impact of these early releases on victims' confidence in our justice system," Newlove says. "It is essential that transparency and rigorous oversight guide our approach. Victim safety must remain the absolute priority."

She adds that risk assessments and "robust release plans are paramount" to managing released offenders.

• For context: Earlier, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told BBC Breakfast that prisoners' victims had been informed of their early release "where it's relevant" - but shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride later suggested not everyone who should've been was told.