The Management of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2008

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order (Article 2) brings into force certain provisions in section 15 of the Management of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 14) (“the 2005 Act”).

Section 15 of the 2005 Act inserts a number of sections and other provisions into the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 (c. 9) (“the 1993 Act”) relating to the release on licence and recall of certain prisoners, including new sections 3AA, 12AA and 12AB.

Section 3AA(1) of the 1993 Act gives the Scottish Ministers a power to release on licence certain prisoners for a period before the date on which they would have served half of their sentence. The power applies in respect of (a) short-term prisoners serving a sentence of three months or more; or (b) long-term prisoners whose release on having served one-half of their sentence has been recommended by the Parole Board. The relevant provisions have already been brought into force in relation to short-term prisoners. This Order brings into force the relevant provisions in relation to long-term prisoners.

Any licence granted under section 3AA(1) of the 1993 Act must include certain standard conditions as prescribed by order under section 12AA(3) of that Act as well as a curfew condition under section 12AB of that Act which will require the released person to remain at a place specified in the licence for a minimum of 9 hours each day. Compliance with the curfew condition will be monitored remotely.