The first group of prisoners who are benefiting from the three-month amnesty started leaving jail today.

Some 32 inmates would have walked out of the large, green metal door of the Corradino Correctional Facility by the end of the day.

They are either prisoners who had a jail term that was less than three months or whose who were nearing the end of their sentence.

Eager relatives started gathering outside the Paola prison from as early as 8.30am.

Some told timesofmalta.com that the amnesty meant “new hope” for them and they were now waiting to get on with their lives.

On Tuesday, Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia visited the prison where he told a crowd of some 500 prisoners he would be granting an amnesty.

The following day, when speaking in Parliament, he gave more details saying prisoners will benefit from a reduction of 100 days from their jail term. The amnesty was being given to commemorate Labour’s victory during the March elections.

The amnesty has been criticised as being insensitive towards victims with Victim Support Malta saying it “impinged on the victims’ right to reparation”.