Victim Support’s CEO Katie Kempen on the impact of early releases – and why every single victim affected by these changes should be able to find out what it means for them.

Imagine spending years waiting for justice.

You report a crime, navigate a challenging police investigation, endure a painful wait for trial impacted by extreme court backlogs, and finally hear the judge or magistrate pass sentence.

For many victims and survivors, that sentence is a monumental milestone after a long and difficult journey. It provides some certainty about what will happen next.

But for some, that certainty has been lost. In recent weeks, many have started to receive letters informing them that offenders are to be released from prison, under licence, earlier than expected.

Changes introduced through the Sentencing Act 2026 — passed at the start of this year in a bid to relieve prison overcrowding — mean some offenders will spend less time in prison than victims expected when the sentence was passed.

Offenders are more likely to receive suspended sentences, serving them in the community. Many of those who are sent to prison will have time spent there reduced. The Act will also apply retroactively, meaning it will affect those already in prison.

The changes will begin coming into force from September and are expected to be fully implemented by summer 2027.

While organisations advocating for penal reform, like the Howard League, welcomed some of these changes, they also warned that they will not solve the underlying causes of the prison capacity crisis — and could increase pressure on already stretched Probation services.

Bearing the brunt

For many victims, the brutal reality is that — once again — they are bearing the brunt of a criminal justice crisis that is not their fault.

To understand the impact these reforms could have on victims, we need to look at the wider journey they have had to navigate to get to this point.

Research tells us that many victims do not report crimes to the police. Of those that are reported, only a minority result in a charge. In the year ending March 2025, that figure stood at only 6.3% of victim-based offences resulting in a charge in year.

For those victims who will see their crime charged, their experience of the criminal justice system can vary from positive to harrowing.

The latest Victims’ Commissioner survey found that only around half of victims felt that the criminal justice system is fair, while fewer than half thought it was effective or that reporting a crime would result in justice.

Our own research into the experiences of victim-survivors of sexual violence paints an equally concerning picture. They described a system that simply asks too much of them, leaving many retraumatised by the process itself. Some reported experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal thoughts or attempts to take their own lives.

Now that Victim Support runs the Witness Service in criminal courts across England and Wales, I have seen first-hand the impact court delays continue to have on victims and witnesses.

Long waits and last-minute adjournments remain common.

Victims who have prepared themselves to attend court often arrive only to be told their case will not go ahead and they must wait many more months to return.

So, for many, reaching a sentence has already been a long and indescribably difficult journey, requiring extraordinary patience, resilience and determination.

What the Sentencing Act means for victims

The rollout of the Sentencing Act means that, for many victims who have made huge efforts to pursue justice, the sentence they heard in court will not be the sentence served in prison.

Some offenders will be released months, or even years, earlier than expected.

We cannot lose sight of the impact this could have on victims’ sense of safety and trust in the justice system.

Unless they are eligible for, and registered with, the Victim Contact Scheme, they simply will not be able to find out how this change will affect them.

This means that the vast majority of victims will be left in the dark about what has changed in an offender’s sentence.

The reforms place significant emphasis on managing offenders under strict licence conditions in the community and on practices to keep the public safe. However, victims are still likely to feel huge uncertainty, fear and confusion, particularly without the prospect of clear answers about what this means for them.

For those who have already waited years to get to court, these reforms are likely to leave them feeling forgotten, let down and questioning whether justice has truly been served.

This impact was set out clearly this week in a parliamentary debate, where MPs spoke with clarity about how victims are already being affected by these changes.

What victims need now

The impact of these reforms will stretch well beyond their impact on prison capacity. Victims’ experiences and sense of safety must be central to the Government’s approach in the coming weeks. They must not be an afterthought in this process, as the Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman has so starkly warned.

Many people will understandably struggle to interpret the details of complex sentencing reform, particularly if they are already coping with the impact of crime.

Victims who are eligible for the Victim Contact Scheme can email vcsenquiries@justice.gov.uk for more support — but many do not have this option. These changes impact victims not eligible for this scheme, but they will still want to know how they are affected.

Every single victim affected by these changes should be able to find out how the offender’s sentence has changed, what it means for them, and have a clear and accessible way to access that information.

As we move forward, and these reforms are applied to cases in court, it’s also crucial victims are given the information to understand the sentence, what it means for them and how to access the Victim Contact Scheme if eligible. It is crucial that victims have an accurate understanding of what a sentence means.

Victims should not face this alone

Many of those affected by these changes will no longer be in contact with criminal justice agencies or support services.

Organisations like Victim Support are here to listen, validate your experiences and, where needed, give you practical support to help you to feel safer. We are by your side after crime.

You can call us on 08 08 16 89 111 or reach out via live chat or access our online self-service support – My Support Space.