TENS of thousands of criminals will dodge jail under sweeping reforms to sentencing laws being put to MPs next month.

The Sentencing Bill will abolish most prison terms of less than 12 months except in “exceptional circumstances” as part of a plan to ease Britain’s overcrowded jails.

The legislation will be introduced when MPs return in September, according to Government sources.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is said to be keen to act quickly to avoid another prison capacity crunch next summer .

Thousands of inmates were released after Labour won power last year in an emergency bid to free up space.

The Bill will include measures first recommended by former Tory Justice Secretary David Gauke in a review this spring .

Central to the reforms is a Texas-inspired “earned

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