House of Commons portcullis
House of Commons
Session 2002 - 03
Internet Publications
Other Bills before Parliament

Criminal Justice Bill


Criminal Justice Bill
Part 12 — Sentencing
Chapter 6 — Release of prisoners on licence

    125

 

           (b)           the sentence is for an offence under section 1 of the Prisoners (Return to

Custody) Act 1995 (c. 16),

           (c)           the prisoner is subject to a hospital order, hospital direction or transfer

direction under section 37, 45A or 47 of the Mental Health Act 1983

(c. 20),

5

           (d)           the sentence was imposed by virtue of paragraph 9(1)(b) or (c) or

10(1)(b) or (c) of Schedule 7 in a case where the prisoner has failed to

comply with a curfew requirement of a community order,

           (e)           the prisoner is subject to the notification requirements of Part 1 of the

Sex Offenders Act 1997 (c. 51),

10

           (f)           the prisoner is liable to removal from the United Kingdom for the

purposes of this Chapter,

           (g)           the prisoner has been released on licence under section 227 during the

currency of the sentence, and has been recalled to prison under section

232,

15

           (h)           the prisoner has been returned to prison under section 116 of the

Sentencing Act at any time, or

           (i)           in the case of a prisoner to whom a direction under section 220 relates,

the interval between the date on which the sentence was passed and the

date on which the prisoner will have served the requisite custodial

20

period is less than 14 days.

     (4)    The Secretary of State may by order—

           (a)           repeal the words “aged 18 or over” in subsection (1),

           (b)           amend the number of days for the time being specified in subsection

(1),

25

           (c)           amend the number of weeks for the time being specified in subsection

(2)(a) or (b)(i),

           (d)           amend the fraction for the time being specified in subsection (2)(b)(ii),

and

           (e)           amend the number of days for the time being specified in subsection

30

(3)(i).

     (5)    In this section “the requisite custodial period” has the same meaning as in

section 224.

 226   Release on licence of prisoner serving extended sentence under section 207 or

208

35

     (1)    This section applies to a prisoner who is serving an extended sentence imposed

under section 207 or 208.

     (2)    After the prisoner has served one-half of the appropriate custodial term, the

Secretary of State may, if recommended to do so by the Board, release the

prisoner on licence.

40

     (3)    After the prisoner has served the whole of the appropriate custodial term, the

Secretary of State must release the prisoner on licence unless the prisoner has

previously been recalled under section 232.

     (4)    Where a prisoner to whom this section applies is released on a licence, the

Secretary of State may not by virtue of section 229(3)(b) include, or

45

subsequently insert, a condition in the licence, or vary or cancel a condition in

the licence, except after consultation with the Board.

 

 

Criminal Justice Bill
Part 12 — Sentencing
Chapter 6 — Release of prisoners on licence

    126

 

     (5)    For the purposes of subsection (4), the Secretary of State is to be treated as

having consulted the Board about a proposal to include, insert, vary or cancel

a condition in any case if he has consulted the Board about the implementation

of proposals of that description generally or in that class of case.

     (6)    In this section “the appropriate custodial term” means the period determined

5

by the court as the appropriate custodial term under section 207 or 208.

 227   Power to release prisoners on compassionate grounds

     (1)    The Secretary of State may at any time release a fixed-term prisoner on licence

if he is satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist which justify the

prisoner’s release on compassionate grounds.

10

     (2)    Before releasing under this section a prisoner to whom section 226 applies, the

Secretary of State must consult the Board, unless the circumstances are such as

to render such consultation impracticable.

 228   Duration of licence

     (1)    Subject to subsections (2) and (3), where a fixed-term prisoner is released on

15

licence, the licence shall, subject to any revocation under section 232 or 233,

remain in force for the remainder of his sentence.

     (2)    Where a prisoner with respect to whom an intermittent custody order has

effect is released on licence under section 224, the licence shall, subject to any

revocation under section 232, remain in force—

20

           (a)           until the time when he is required to return to prison at the beginning

of the next custodial period of the sentence, or

           (b)           where it is granted at the end of the last custodial period, for the

remainder of his sentence.

     (3)    Subsection (1) has effect subject to sections 237(2) (concurrent terms) and 238(3)

25

and (4) (consecutive terms).

     (4)    In subsection (2) “custodial period”, in relation to a sentence to which an

intermittent custody order relates, means any period which is not a licence

period as defined by 165(3).

 229   Licence conditions

30

     (1)    In this section—

           (a)           “the standard conditions” means such conditions as may be prescribed

for the purposes of this section as standard conditions, and

           (b)           “prescribed” means prescribed by the Secretary of State by order.

     (2)    Subject to subsection (5), any licence under this Chapter in respect of a prisoner

35

serving one or more sentences of imprisonment of less than twelve months and

no sentence of twelve months or more—

           (a)           must include—

                  (i)                 the conditions required by the relevant court order, and

                  (ii)                so far as not inconsistent with them, the standard conditions,

40

and

           (b)           may also include any condition which is authorised by section 62 of the

Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (c. 43) (electronic

 

 

Criminal Justice Bill
Part 12 — Sentencing
Chapter 6 — Release of prisoners on licence

    127

 

           (b)           monitoring) or section 64 of that Act (drug testing requirements) and

which is compatible with the conditions required by the relevant court

order.

     (3)    Any licence under this Chapter in respect of a prisoner serving a sentence of

imprisonment for a term of twelve months (including such a sentence imposed

5

under section 207) or more or any sentence of detention under section 91 of the

Sentencing Act or section 208 of this Act—

           (a)           must include the standard conditions, and

           (b)           may include—

                  (i)                 any condition authorised by section 62 or 64 of the Criminal

10

Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (c. 43), and

                  (ii)                such other conditions of a kind prescribed by the Secretary of

State for the purposes of this paragraph as the Secretary of State

may for the time being specify in the licence.

     (4)    A licence under section 225 must also include a curfew condition complying

15

with section 231.

     (5)    Where—

           (a)           a licence under section 225 is granted to a prisoner serving one or more

sentences of imprisonment of less than 12 months and no sentence of 12

months or more, and

20

           (b)           the relevant court order requires the licence to be granted subject to a

condition requiring his compliance with a curfew requirement (as

defined by section 184),

            that condition is not to be included in the licence until the curfew condition

complying with section 231 has ceased to be in force.

25

     (6)    The preceding provisions of this section have effect subject to section 237(3)

(concurrent terms) and section 238(3) and (4) (consecutive terms).

     (7)    In exercising his powers to prescribe standard conditions or the other

conditions referred to in subsection (3)(b)(ii), the Secretary of State must have

regard to the following purposes of the supervision of offenders while on

30

licence under this Chapter—

           (a)           the protection of the public,

           (b)           the prevention of re-offending, and

           (c)           securing the successful re-integration of the prisoner into the

community.

35

 230   Duty to comply with licence conditions

A person subject to a licence under this Chapter must comply with such

conditions as may for the time being be specified in the licence.

 231   Curfew condition to be included in licence under section 225

     (1)    For the purposes of this Chapter, a curfew condition is a condition which—

40

           (a)           requires the released person to remain, for periods for the time being

specified in the condition, at a place for the time being so specified

(which may be premises approved by the Secretary of State under

section 9 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (c. 43)),

and

45

 

 

Criminal Justice Bill
Part 12 — Sentencing
Chapter 6 — Release of prisoners on licence

    128

 

           (b)           includes requirements for securing the electronic monitoring of his

whereabouts during the periods for the time being so specified.

     (2)    The curfew condition may specify different places or different periods for

different days, but may not specify periods which amount to less than 9 hours

in any one day (excluding for this purpose the first and last days of the period

5

for which the condition is in force).

     (3)    The curfew condition is to remain in force until the date when the released

person would (but for his release) fall to be released on licence under section

224.

     (4)    The curfew condition must include provision for making a person responsible

10

for monitoring the released person’s whereabouts during the periods for the

time being specified in the condition; and a person who is made so responsible

shall be of a description specified in an order made by the Secretary of State.

     (5)    Nothing in this section is to be taken to require the Secretary of State to ensure

that arrangements are made for the electronic monitoring of released persons’

15

whereabouts in any particular part of England and Wales.

Recall after release

 232   Recall of prisoners while on licence

     (1)    The Secretary of State may, in the case of any prisoner who has been released

on licence under this Chapter, revoke his licence and recall him to prison.

20

     (2)    A person recalled to prison under subsection (1)—

           (a)           may make representations in writing with respect to his recall, and

           (b)           on his return to prison, must be informed of the reasons for his recall

and of his right to make representations.

     (3)    The Secretary of State must refer to the Board the case of a person recalled

25

under subsection (1).

     (4)    Where on a reference under subsection (3) relating to any person the Board

recommends his immediate release on licence under this Chapter, the

Secretary of State must give effect to the recommendation.

     (5)    On the revocation of the licence of any person under this section, he shall be

30

liable to be detained in pursuance of his sentence and, if at large, is to be treated

as being unlawfully at large.

     (6)    Nothing in subsections (2) to (5) applies in relation to a person recalled under

section 233.

 233   Recall of prisoners released early under s. 225

35

     (1)    If it appears to the Secretary of State, as regards a person released on licence

under section 225

           (a)           that he has failed to comply with any condition included in his licence,

or

           (b)           that his whereabouts can no longer be electronically monitored at the

40

place for the time being specified in the curfew condition included in

his licence,

 

 

Criminal Justice Bill
Part 12 — Sentencing
Chapter 6 — Release of prisoners on licence

    129

 

            the Secretary of State may, if the curfew condition is still in force, revoke the

licence and recall the person to prison under this section.

     (2)    A person whose licence under section 225 is revoked under this section—

           (a)           may make representations in writing with respect to the revocation,

and

5

           (b)           on his return to prison, must be informed of the reasons for the

revocation and of his right to make representations.

     (3)    The Secretary of State, after considering any representations under subsection

(2)(b) or any other matters, may cancel a revocation under this section.

     (4)    Where the revocation of a person’s licence is cancelled under subsection (3), the

10

person is to be treated for the purposes of section 225 as if he had not been

recalled to prison under this section.

     (5)    On the revocation of a person’s licence under section 225, he is liable to be

detained in pursuance of his sentence and, if at large, is to be treated as being

unlawfully at large.

15

 234   Further release after recall

     (1)    Where on a reference under section 232(3) in relation to any person, the Board

does not recommend his immediate release on licence under this Chapter, the

Board must either—

           (a)           fix a date for the person’s release on licence, or

20

           (b)           fix a date as the date for the next review of the person’s case by the

Board.

     (2)    Any date fixed under subsection (1)(a) or (b) must not be later than the first

anniversary of the date on which the decision is taken.

     (3)    The Board need not fix a date under subsection (1)(a) or (b) if the prisoner will

25

fall to be released unconditionally at any time within the next 12 months.

     (4)    Where the Board has fixed a date under subsection (1)(a), it is the duty of the

Secretary of State to release him on licence on that date.

     (5)    On a review required by subsection (1)(b) in relation to any person, the Board

may—

30

           (a)           recommend his immediate release on licence, or

           (b)           fix a date under (1)(a) or (b).

Additional days

 235   Additional days for disciplinary offences

     (1)    Prison rules , that is to say, rules made under section 47 of the Prison Act 1952

35

(c. 52), may include provision for the award of additional days—

           (a)           to fixed-term prisoners, or

           (b)           conditionally on their subsequently becoming such prisoners, to

persons on remand,

            who (in either case) are guilty of disciplinary offences.

40

 

 

Criminal Justice Bill
Part 12 — Sentencing
Chapter 6 — Release of prisoners on licence

    130

 

     (2)    Where additional days are awarded to a fixed-term prisoner, or to a person on

remand who subsequently becomes such a prisoner, and are not remitted in

accordance with prison rules—

           (a)           any period which he must serve before becoming entitled to or eligible

for release under this Chapter, and

5

           (b)           any period for which a licence granted to him under this Chapter

remains in force,

            is extended by the aggregate of those additional days.

Persons liable to removal from United Kingdom

 236   Persons liable to removal from the United Kingdom

10

     (1)    In relation to a prisoner to whom section 226 applies and who is liable to

removal from the United Kingdom, subsection (2) of that section has effect as

if the words “if recommended to do so by the Board” were omitted.

     (2)    For the purposes of this Part, a person is liable to removal from the United

Kingdom if—

15

           (a)           he is liable to deportation under section 3(5) of the Immigration Act

1971 (c. 77) and has been notified of a decision to make a deportation

order against him,

           (b)           he is liable to deportation under section 3(6) of that Act,

           (c)           he has been notified of a decision to refuse him leave to enter the United

20

Kingdom, or

           (d)           he is an illegal entrant within the meaning of section 33(1) of that Act, or

           (e)           he is liable to removal under section 10 of the Immigration and Asylum

Act 1999 (c. 33).

Consecutive or concurrent terms

25

 237   Concurrent terms

     (1)    This section applies where—

           (a)           a person (“the offender”) has been sentenced by any court to two or

more terms of imprisonment which are wholly or partly concurrent,

and

30

           (b)           the sentences were passed on the same occasion or, where they were

passed on different occasions, the person has not been released under

this Chapter at any time during the period beginning with the first and

ending with the last of those occasions.

     (2)    Where this section applies—

35

           (a)           nothing in this Chapter requires the Secretary of State to release the

offender in respect of any of the terms unless and until he is required to

release him in respect of each of the others,

           (b)           section 224 does not authorise the Secretary of State to release him on

licence under that section in respect of any of the terms unless and until

40

that section authorises the Secretary of State to do so in respect of each

of the others,

 

 

Criminal Justice Bill
Part 12 — Sentencing
Chapter 6 — Release of prisoners on licence

    131

 

           (c)           on and after his release under this Chapter the offender is to be on

licence for so long, and subject to such conditions, as is required by this

Chapter in respect of any of the sentences.

     (3)    Where the sentences include one or more sentences of twelve months or more

and one or more sentences of less than twelve months, the terms of the licence

5

may be determined by the Secretary of State in accordance with section

229(3)(b), without regard to the requirements of any custody plus order or

intermittent custody order.

     (4)    In this section “term of imprisonment” includes a determinate sentence of

detention under section 91 of the Sentencing Act or under section 208 of this

10

Act.

 238   Consecutive terms

     (1)    This section applies where—

           (a)           a person (“the offender”) has been sentenced to two or more terms of

imprisonment which are to be served consecutively on each other, and

15

           (b)           the sentences were passed on the same occasion or, where they were

passed on different occasions, the person has not been released under

this Chapter at any time during the period beginning with the first and

ending with the last of those occasions.

     (2)    Nothing in this Chapter requires the Secretary of State to release the offender

20

on licence until he has served a period equal in length to the aggregate of the

length of the custodial periods in relation to each of the terms of imprisonment.

     (3)    Where any of the terms of imprisonment is a term of twelve months or more,

the offender is, on and after his release under this Chapter, to be on licence—

           (a)           until he would, but for his release, have served a term equal in length

25

to the aggregate length of the terms of imprisonment, and

           (b)           subject to such conditions as are required by this Chapter in respect of

each of those terms of imprisonment.

     (4)    Where each of the terms of imprisonment is a term of less than twelve months,

the offender is, on and after his release under this Chapter, to be on licence until

30

the relevant time, and subject to such conditions are are required by this

Chapter in respect of any of the terms of imprisonment, and none of the terms

is to be regarded for any purpose as continuing after the relevant time.

     (5)    In subsection (4) “the relevant time” means the time when the offender would,

but for his release, have served a term equal in length to the aggregate of—

35

           (a)           all the custodial periods in relation to the terms of imprisonment, and

           (b)           the longest of the licence periods in relation to those terms.

     (6)    In this section—

           (a)           “custodial period”—

                  (i)                 in relation to an extended sentence imposed under section 207

40

or 208, means the appropriate custodial term determined under

that section,

                  (ii)                in relation to a term of twelve months or more, means one-half

of the term, and

                  (iii)               in relation to a term of less than twelve months complying with

45

section 163, means the custodial period as defined by subsection

(3)(a) of that section;

 

 

 
previous section contents continue
 
House of Commons home page Houses of Parliament home page House of Lords home page search page enquiries

© Parliamentary copyright 2002
Revised 21 November 2002