PART 2 N.I.SENTENCING

CHAPTER 4 N.I.RELEASE ON LICENCE

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. 2 Ch. 4 applied (with modifications) by Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984 (c. 47), Sch. para. 2A(4) (as inserted (15.5.2008) by Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1216 (N.I. 1)), arts. 1(4), 102(1), Sch. 5 para. 4(2)); S.R. 2008/217, art. 2, Sch. (with transitory provision in art. 4)

Valid from 01/06/2015

Power [F1 ...] to release on licence N.I.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in art. 19 cross-heading omitted (12.4.2010) by Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), arts. 1(2), 6(2), Sch. 5 para. 12 (with arts. 28-31); S.I. 2010/977, art. 1(2) (but this amendment cannot take effect until the commencement of S.I. 2008/1216, art. 19 cross-heading)

Power to release certain prisoners on compassionate grounds N.I.

20.—(1) The [F2 Department of Justice] may, if satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist which justify the release of a prisoner to whom this Article applies on compassionate grounds, at any time release the prisoner on licence under this Article.

(2) This Articles applies to—

(a) a fixed-term prisoner; and

(b) a prisoner serving an indeterminate custodial sentence.

(3) The [F3 Department of Justice] shall, before releasing a prisoner serving—

(a) an indeterminate custodial sentence; or

(b) an extended custodial sentence,

consult the Parole Commissioners unless the circumstances are such as to render such consultation impracticable.

(4) In this Article “fixed-term prisoner” includes a person serving a determinate custodial sentence for an offence committed before the commencement of this Article.

[F4 (5) The Secretary of State may notify the Department of Justice that a prisoner is not to be released under this Article without the Secretary of State's agreement; and, if the Secretary of State gives such a notification in relation to a prisoner, the Department of Justice may not release the prisoner under this Article without the Secretary of State's agreement.

(6) But the Secretary of State may—

(a) give a notification, or

(b) refuse his agreement to a release,

only if his decision to do so is arrived at (wholly or partly) on the basis of protected information.]

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in art. 20(1) substituted (12.4.2010) by Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), arts. 1(2), 6(2), Sch. 5 para. 16(2) (with arts. 28-31); S.I. 2010/977, art. 1(2) (but this amendment cannot take effect until the commencement of S.I. 2008/1216, art. 20)

F3 Words in art. 20(3) substituted (12.4.2010) by Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), arts. 1(2), 6(2), Sch. 5 para. 16(2) (with arts. 28-31); S.I. 2010/977, art. 1(2) (but this amendment cannot take effect until the commencement of S.I. 2008/1216, art. 20)

F4 Art. 20(5)(6) inserted (12.4.2010) by Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), arts. 1(2), 6(2), Sch. 5 para. 16(3) (with arts. 28-31); S.I. 2010/977, art. 1(2) (but this amendment cannot take effect until the commencement of S.I. 2008/1216, art. 20)