Over 1000 inmates released in Philippines as part of prison decongestion effort

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) in the Philippines announced that over 1,000 inmates were released between November 26 and December 30, 2024. This brings the total number of releases for the year to 7,707. The releases are part of a government initiative to reduce overcrowding in prisons. BuCor plans to release more qualified inmates, including those convicted of serious crimes, following a recent Supreme Court ruling on good conduct time allowances. The Good Conduct Time Allowance allows inmates to reduce their sentences based on good behavior. This change may affect the release of inmates previously ineligible for early release.