Criminal Justice Act 2003

Criminal Justice Act 2003

2003 CHAPTER 44

Commentary on Sections

Part 12 - Sentencing

Chapter 6: Release of Prisoners on Licence

Section 250: Licence conditions

581. This section makes provision in relation to the conditions which may be attached to a licence following a prisoner’s release. All licences must include “the standard conditions” as defined insofar as they are compatible with the other licence conditions. An example of a “standard condition” that could be prescribed is a requirement that the offender be of good behaviour. Other than the standard conditions, the content of the licence will vary according to the sentence being served. For prisoners serving one or more sentences of less than twelve months the conditions of the licence are set by the court at the point of sentence (see section 189). These conditions apply in conjunction with the standard conditions and with any condition prescribed for this purpose by the Secretary of State for the purpose of public protection (see subsection (2)(b)(ii)). Subsection (3) provides that court-ordered licence conditions apply where a prisoner is released on licence for compassionate reasons or on Home Detention Curfew. For prisoners serving one or more sentence of more than 12 months the conditions of the licence are set by Prison and Probation Service prior to the prisoners’ release. In this case, subsection (4) provides that the standard conditions will apply, together with any other condition prescribed for this purpose by the Secretary of State and specified in the licence. Conditions as to electronic monitoring and drug testing may also be applied under section 62 or 64 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000. Subsection (5) ensures every Home Detention Curfew licence has a curfew condition. Subsection (6) provides that if a court-ordered licence in a sentence of less than 12 months has a curfew condition, it is not to operate at the same time as an HDC curfew. Subsection (7) applies the arrangements on consecutive and concurrent terms to the section. Subsection (8) requires the Secretary of State to have regard to several factors including the protection of the public and the prevention of re-offending when creating standard conditions.