(1)The Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 is amended as follows.
(2)After section 26B there is inserted—
(1)Where a prisoner is to be released by the Scottish Ministers, they may release the prisoner on a day that is earlier than the day on which the prisoner would otherwise fall to be released (but this is subject to subsections (2) and (3)).
(2)The release of a prisoner may be brought forward under subsection (1) only if, in the Scottish Ministers' opinion, it would be better for the prisoner's re-integration into the community for the prisoner to be released on the earlier day than on the day on which the prisoner would otherwise fall to be released.
(3)The release of a prisoner may not be brought forward under subsection (1) by more than 2 days.
(4)In a case in which section 27(7) applies, a reference in this section to the day on which a prisoner would fall to be released is to the day on which the prisoner would fall to be released by virtue of that section.
(5)This section does not apply in relation to a prisoner who is serving a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than 15 days.”.
Commencement Information
I1S. 2 in force at 1.2.2016 by S.S.I. 2015/409, art. 2