Was Barabbas released from prison temporarily?

Question

It is generally understood that when Barabbas was released from prison, he was not required to return after the Passover festival. Why believe this was the case? Perhaps a more modest temporary release of a prisoner makes better sense of the poor external attestation of such a practice (historicity of the paschal pardon discussed here: Is the story of Barabbas possibly fabricated?).

1. Permanently releasing (presumably any, given that Barabbas was a murderous insurrectionist) a prisoner at crowd request seems implausible.
2. A temporary release at crowd request provides accountability. If the released prisoner acts up, everyone would know the Romans will punish both the prisoner and people at-large harshly.

Given public support for Jesus on Palm Sunday, perhaps Pilate thinks he can play the masses against the Jewish leaders. Mark stresses that the Jewish leadership plotted to convict Jesus in secret, and there is no popular support for Jesus's conviction (Mark 14:1-2, 48-49).

If the masses show support for Jesus, the Jewish leaders will have a hard time disposing of him. The Romans would be reluctant to crucify a popular figure who broke no Roman law, and the masses would rebel against the Jewish leaders for instigating a judicial murder against their beloved teacher.

Some uses of the word "release" (ἀπέλυεν and related forms) seem to connote finality, but I don't know if that's necessarily the case (https://biblehub.com/greek/630.htm).

Answer 1

Matthew 27:

15Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing. 16At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. 17So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

19While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”

Pilate's wife thought Jesus was innocent. Pilate knew that the Jews falsely accused Jesus out of envy. Pilate called Jesus the anointed Christ.

Did Pilate just want to release Jesus temporarily?

I don't think so. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent.

24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”

Pilate was consistent in this. Later,

John 19:19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

If you get into the mind of Pilate, it is clear: Pilate wanted to release Jesus permanently. If you shift your focus to Barabbas, you may develop doubts about this permanency of release.