Jason Hoganson, a once-promising Hollywood actor with a staggering 109 convictions, has been released early from prison—just 19 days after being sentenced for a brutal assault on his ex-girlfriend. The fallen star, who gained fame in the 1980s Brit flick Empire State, is one of 1,700 inmates freed early as part of the government’s emergency measures to combat overcrowded prisons, via the Mirror.
Hoganson, now 53 and visibly marked by a life of drink, drugs, and crime, gave a jubilant thumbs up as he walked out of HMP Durham, his face lined with scars and his head covered in distinctive tattoos. The actor was sentenced to 18 months behind bars last month for assaulting his ex-partner in a vicious attack caught on video, told The Daily Mail. The Newcastle Crown Court had heard how Hoganson, despite a restraining order, assaulted his former partner on a street in Newcastle last December. Footage showed him slapping her, pushing her to the ground, and continuing the attack while she lay helpless.
Prosecutor Amy Levitt described the harrowing scene: “There are further hits and a push, where she falls to the floor. The assault continues while she’s lying on the floor.” Hoganson admitted to assault by beating and breaching the restraining order.
Despite his violent history, Hoganson was released as part of a controversial plan to free up space in the UK’s overcrowded prisons. Downing Street defended the mass early releases, even as images surfaced of freed prisoners celebrating, some popping champagne bottles as they left their cells after serving as little as 40% of their sentences.
The Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, addressed the public outcry, noting that domestic violence offenders were excluded from the early release program. However, those convicted of broader offences like assault and criminal damage—such as Hoganson—were not. The government’s decision has sparked widespread debate, as the prison population reaches its highest levels in over a decade, with over 88,500 inmates as of last week.
Hoganson, once a rising star, now represents a stark example of a life gone tragically wrong, and his early release has only added fuel to the controversy surrounding the UK’s handling of its overburdened prison system.