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Sep 9, 2024 · Some prisoners will now serve 40% of their sentence in prison rather than 50%. The remainder of their sentence will continue to be served in the community under the supervision of probation. This ...
Oct 17, 2023 · Chalk also said that some less serious offenders could be moved out of prison on to licence up to 18 days before their automatic release date, and the use of recall to prison for offenders on ...
- What Are We Going to do?
- How Are We Going to Do It?
- Background
- Frequently Asked Questions
We are changing release arrangement for serious violent and sex offenders, as well as for those whose risk to the public increases during their time in custody, so that they serve longer in prison. These changes have the protection of the public at their core and ensure a firm but fair justice system.
2.1 Abolish automatic halfway release for certain serious offenders.
In April 2020 we brought in the Release of Prisoners (Alteration of Relevant Proportion of Sentence) Order 2020 that ensured serious violent or sexual offenders who receive a Standard Determinate Sentence (SDS) of 7 years or more (for an offence for which the maximum penalty is life) are required to serve two-thirds of their sentence in custody instead of half. Following that change, which this Act will enshrine in primary legislation, we are also now applying the two-thirds release point req...
2.2 Increase the time sex offenders serving a SOPC must spend in prison.
Where someone receives a Sentence for Offenders of Particular Concern (SOPC), the Act will ensure that they can only be released, at the earliest, after having served two-thirds of their custodial term (as opposed to halfway). Following that point, they can then be released at the discretion of a Parole Board, or they will remain in prison until the end of their sentence. SOPC sentences apply to specified terrorist offences and the two most serious child sex offences (rape of a child under 13...
2.3 Introduce a new power to prevent the automatic early release of prisoners who become a public protection concern
We will introduce a new power to prevent the automatic release of prisoners serving a SDS who become a significant public protection concern while in custody, including where they present a risk to national security. The power will mean a case may be referred to the Parole Board to assess whether it is necessary to detain the prisoner for the protection of the public. If the prisoner is not released by the Parole Board, they will be released at the end of their sentence.
3.1 Abolish automatic halfway release for certain serious offenders
Under the new provisions in this Act, all ‘max-life’ sexual offences will attract a two-thirds release point if a SDS of 4 years or more is imposed, including for those convicted of rape. The release point change for violent offenders given an SDS of 4 to 7 years will target the most serious types of offence – those being manslaughter, soliciting murder, attempted murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Holding the most serious prisoners in custody until the two-thirds...
3.2 SOPC (Sentences for Offenders of Particular Concern).
The Government has already ensured that terrorist offenders who receive a SOPC must serve at least two-thirds of their custodial term. This change will bring remaining SOPC offenders into line with those changes and other wider sentencing law changes that ensure that the most serious offenders spend more time in prison. SOPC sentences apply to specified terrorist offences and the two most serious child sex offences (rape of a child under 13 and sexual assault of a child under 13). A SOPC must...
3.3 Power to prevent automatic early release of prisoners who become a public protection concern.
The Government introduced emergency legislation after the terrorist attack in Streatham in February 2020 to ensure that those convicted of terrorist or terrorist-connected offences serving a SDS are not released before the end of their sentence without the approval of the Parole Board. However, we want to ensure we also capture those offenders who are not convicted of a terrorism offence, but it later emerges that they pose a credible public protection concern. Those individuals should be rev...
4.1 Why not ensure serious or violent offenders spend all their sentence in custody?
The licence period is an important element of all custodial sentences, delivering a phased return to the community with supervision in place. Keeping offenders in prison until the end of their custodial sentence would mean releasing them with no licence conditions, which we think would be worse for victim confidence and safety, and offender rehabilitation.
4.2 Why are you changing the release point for SDS and SOPC sentences?
Ending automatic halfway release from prison for serious crimes is a manifesto commitment, and important for improving public safety and public confidence in the justice system. These changes will ensure that those who have committed serious offences will no longer be eligible for automatic release at the halfway point of their sentence. Instead they must serve two-thirds.
4.3 Does the new power to prevent automatic early release mean you will have the power to detain offenders beyond the sentence given by the court?
No, this power only relates to whether the offender is suitable for early release. There will be no power to change the overall length of the sentence handed down by the court.
Jul 12, 2024 · BBC Verify. Getty Images. Another 1,100 prisoners are being freed early in England and Wales, under the government's emergency plan to tackle overcrowding in jails. About 1,700 prisoners were ...
The definitive guidelines on the sentencing of motoring offences were issued on 15 June 2023 and came into force on 1 July 2023. causing death by dangerous driving,
Jul 13, 2023 · Driving offences There is a broad range of offences that come within the scope of a driving offence, and the police deal with most minor driving offences without reference to the CPS. When dealing with minor traffic offences, prosecutors should carefully consider the impact of a prosecution against the child’s employment and education prospects should their license be revoked, or future ...
People also ask
When can a convicted criminal be moved out of prison?
Will all eligible prisoners be released at the same time?
How will a new earliest release point affect prison time?
What happens if a prisoner is not released?
What are the guidelines on the sentencing of motoring offences?
What is the release point change for violent offenders?
If you’re aged between 12 and 17 you could get a detention and training order. This lasts between 4 months and 2 years. You would serve the first half of the sentence in custody. You’d serve ...
