I hope Growler is in a calm and sedate mood this morning before he reads this ....
Prisoners allowed up to 100 days 'holiday' from cells....
Some prisoners can even spend up to a month at a time doing community service outside their prisons.
The number of prisoners offered so-called "resettlement overnight release" (ROR) in the final years of their sentence has trebled in just two years. Prison governors are now granting the equivalent of 30 licences for such temporary release every day.
Ministers say that ROR helps criminals reintegrate into the community, cutting reoffending. Critics say it is being used to alleviate pressure on packed jails.
Some criminals have used their temporary freedom to commit further crimes during their temporary release.
* Harry Roberts, 72, who was given a 42 year jail sentence after murdering three policemen, terrorised a woman while let out on a scheme meant to reacquaint him with life on the outside. His release was cancelled and he remains in jail.
* Robert Foye, who was serving 10 years for the attempted murder of a policeman, raped a 16-year-old girl in August 2007 after being let out on day release to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
* Thomas Murray, a convicted murderer and certified schizophrenic, entered the home of Nancy Nolan, an 80-year-old retired schoolteacher, and killed her with a lump hammer while on day release in 2000.
