Tougher punishments outside prison are being considered as part of a government review into sentencing.
The review will be launched on Tuesday by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood in a bid to ease overcrowding in the prison system.
Led by former Conservative justice secretary David Gauke, the review will be activated on the same day that around 1,100 inmates are set to be released early as part of the government’s policy to free up prison space.
Latest figures show there are just over 2,000 free spaces in prisons across England and Wales – and they are expected to reach critical capacity again by July.
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Mr Gauke will explore tougher punishments outside of prison while ensuring there remains enough capacity in the system to incarcerate the most dangerous offenders, the government has said.
Among the alternatives that will be examined are community sentences and fines.
Methods used by other countries are being assessed for inspiration, including the US, where Texas has used good behaviour credits to reduce sentences.
Nudge technology, sobriety tags and home detention curfews will also be looked at in the review, with watches and apps used to encourage offenders to comply with certain conditions.
Mr Gauke, who argued there was a “very strong case” for abolishing jail terms of six months or less when he was justice secretary in 2019, said it was clear “our prisons are not working”.
“This review will explore what punishment and rehabilitation should look like in the 21st century, and how we can move our justice…
