Release from prison is matter of increasing interest throughout Europe. On the one hand, arguments about the need to reduce prison numbers, as well the consistent findings that prisoners can be integrated into society more effectively if they are subject to a period of supervision in the community, have made early release policies attractive to governments and to academic commentators. On the other hand, there are concerns that early release may not be applied fairly to all prisoners. This book aims to meet the need for comparative information on release from prison across Europe and explores some of the key themes and issues. The body of the book focuses on country perspectives, providing an invaluable survey of the situation in a number of European countries. The introductory and concluding chapters place the comparative material in a broader perspective. They explain how release policy is related to wider questions about justice and fairness in prison-related decision-making and the changing place of imprisonment in European society.

Part 1 1. Introduction, Nicola Padfield, Dirk van Zyl Smit and Frieder Dünkel 2. The European Dimension to the Release of Sentenced Prisoners, John R. Spencer and Dirk van Zyl Smit Part 2: Country Perspectives 3. Austria, Karin Bruckmüller and Veronika Hofinger 4. Belgium, Sonja Snacken, Kristel Beyens and Marie-Aude Beernaert 5. England and Wales, Nicola Padfield 6. Finland, Tapio Lappi-Seppälä 7. France, Kim Reuflet 8. Germany, Frieder Dünkel and Ineke Pruin 9. Greece, Leonidas K. Cheliotis with the Assistance of Ioannis Papageorgiou 10. Ireland, Thomas O'Malley 11. Italy, Alessandra Gualazzi and Chiara Mancuso 12. The Netherlands, Martin Moerings 13. Scotland, Douglas Thomson 14. Slovenia, Katja sugman Stubbs and Matjaz Ambroz 15. Spain, José Cid and Beatriz Tébar Part 3: Converging Themes 16. Concluding Thoughts, Nicola Padfield, Dirk van Zyl Smit and Frieder Dünkel