Criminal Justice Act 2003

[F1 Part 3 U.K. Prisoners serving 1967 Act sentences

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 20B inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 17 para. 10; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(o)

23 (1) This Part applies to certain persons serving a 1967 Act sentence. U.K.

(2) But this Part does not apply to a person who—

(a) has been released on licence,

(b) has been recalled to prison, and

(c) (whether or not having returned to custody in consequence of that recall) is unlawfully at large on the commencement date.

(3) In this Part, references to release under Part 2 of the 1991 Act include release under section 60 of the 1967 Act.

Sentence of more than 12 months imposed before 1 October 1992 U.K.

24 (1) This paragraph applies to a person if— U.K.

(a) the person is serving a sentence of imprisonment imposed before 1 October 1992,

(b) the sentence is for a term of more than 12 months, and

(c) the person has not previously been released from prison on licence in respect of that sentence.

(2) This paragraph also applies to a person if—

(a) the person is serving a sentence of imprisonment imposed before 1 October 1992,

(b) the sentence is for a term of more than 12 months,

(c) the person has been released on licence under Part 2 of the 1991 Act, and

(d) the person has been recalled before 14 July 2008 (and has not been recalled after that date).

(3) But this paragraph does not apply if, on the passing of the sentence, an extended sentence certificate was issued (see paragraph 27).

(4) If a person has been—

(a) released under section 34A of the 1991 Act or section 246 (home detention curfew), and

(b) recalled under section 38A(1)(b) of the 1991 Act or section 255(1)(b) (no longer possible to monitor curfew),

the release and recall are to be disregarded for the purposes of this paragraph.

25 (1) It is the duty of the Secretary of State to release a person to whom paragraph 24 applies unconditionally under this paragraph— U.K.

(a) in the case of a person falling within paragraph 24(1), as soon as the person has served two-thirds of the sentence;

(b) in the case of a person falling within paragraph 24(2), as soon as the person would (but for the earlier release) have served two-thirds of the sentence.

(2) After a person falling within paragraph 24(1) has served one-third of the sentence or six months, whichever is longer, the Secretary of State must, if directed to do so by the Board, release the person on licence under this paragraph.

(3) The Board must not give a direction under sub-paragraph (2) unless the Board is satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the person should be confined.

(4) Sub-paragraphs (1) to (3) apply in place of section 244 (release on licence of prisoners serving 12 months or more).

[F2 (5) Paragraphs 38 and 39 contain provision that relates to the Board's function of giving directions under sub-paragraph (3) for the release of a person.]

Textual Amendments

F2 Sch. 20B para. 25(5) inserted (E.W.) (4.1.2021) by Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Act 2020 (c. 19), ss. 2(5)(c), 3(2); S.I. 2020/1537, reg. 2

26 (1) Where a person to whom paragraph 24 applies is released on licence under paragraph 25(2), the licence shall remain in force until the date on which the person would (but for the release) have served two-thirds of the sentence. U.K.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) is subject to any revocation under section 254.

(3) Sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) apply in place of section 249 (duration of licence).

Extended sentence of more than 12 months imposed before 1 October 1992 U.K.

27 (1) This paragraph applies to a person if— U.K.

(a) the person is serving a sentence of imprisonment imposed before 1 October 1992,

(b) the sentence is for a term of more than 12 months,

(c) on the passing of the sentence an extended sentence certificate was issued, and

(d) the person has not previously been released from prison on licence in respect of that sentence.

(2) This paragraph also applies to a person if—

(a) the person is serving a sentence of imprisonment imposed before 1 October 1992,

(b) the sentence is for a term of more than 12 months,

(c) on the passing of the sentence an extended sentence certificate was issued,

(d) the person has been released on licence under Part 2 of the 1991 Act, and

(e) the person has been recalled before 14 July 2008 (and has not been recalled after that date).

(3) In this paragraph “extended sentence certificate” means a certificate was issued under section 28 of the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 (punishment of persistent offenders) stating that an extended term of imprisonment was imposed on the person under that section.

28 (1) It is the duty of the Secretary of State to release a person to whom paragraph 27 applies on licence under this paragraph— U.K.

(a) in the case of a person falling within paragraph 27(1), as soon as the person has served two-thirds of the sentence;

(b) in the case of a person falling within paragraph 27(2), as soon as the person would (but for the earlier release) have served two-thirds of the sentence.

(2) After a person falling within paragraph 27(1) has served one-third of the sentence or six months, whichever is longer, the Secretary of State must, if directed to do so by the Board, release the person on licence under this paragraph.

(3) The Board must not give a direction under sub-paragraph (2) unless the Board is satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the person should be confined.

(4) Sub-paragraphs (1) to (3) apply in place of section 244 (release on licence of prisoners serving twelve months or more).

Additional days U.K.

29 (1) Prison rules made by virtue of section 257 may include provision for applying any provisions of this Chapter, in relation to any person falling within sub-paragraph (2), as if the person had been awarded such number of additional days as may be determined by or under the rules. U.K.

(2) A person falls within this sub-paragraph if—

(a) the person was released on licence under section 60 of the 1967 Act before 1 October 1992 and the licence was in force on that date, or

(b) the person was, on that date, serving a custodial sentence,

and (in either case) the person has forfeited any remission of the sentence.

Concurrent or consecutive terms U.K.

30 U.K. Paragraphs 31 to 33 apply where a person (“P”) is serving two or more sentences of imprisonment and—

(a) the sentences were passed on the same occasion, or

(b) where they were passed on different occasions, the person has not been released under Part 2 of the 1991 Act or under this Chapter at any time during the period beginning with the first and ending with the last of those occasions.

31 (1) This paragraph applies where each of the sentences is a 1967 Act sentence. U.K.

(2) Sections 263 and 264 (consecutive and concurrent terms) do not apply in relation to the sentences.

(3) For the purposes of any reference in this Chapter, however expressed, to the term of imprisonment to which P has been sentenced or which, or part of which, P has served, the terms are to be treated as a single term.

32 (1) This paragraph applies where— U.K.

(a) one or more of the sentences is a 1967 Act sentence, and

(b) one or more of them is a 1991 Act sentence.

(2) Sections 263 and 264 (consecutive and concurrent terms) do not apply in relation to the sentences mentioned in sub-paragraph (1).

(3) For the purposes of any reference in this Chapter, however expressed, to the term of imprisonment to which P has been sentenced or which, or part of which, P has served—

(a) the terms mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) are to be treated as a single term, and

(b) that single term is to be treated as if it were a 1967 Act sentence.

(4) If one or more of the sentences is a section 85 extended sentence—

(a) for the purpose of determining the single term mentioned in sub-paragraph (3), the extension period or periods is or are to be disregarded, and

(b) the period for which P is to be on licence in respect of the single term is to be increased in accordance with sub-paragraph (5).

(5) That period is to be increased—

(a) if only one of the sentences is a section 85 extended sentence, by the extension period;

(b) if there is more than one such sentence and they are wholly or partly concurrent, by the longest of the extension periods;

(c) if there is more than one such sentence and they are consecutive, by the aggregate of the extension periods.

(6) If P is also serving a 2003 Act sentence, sub-paragraph (3) is to be applied before the period mentioned in section 263(2)(c) (concurrent terms) or paragraph 33(3) (consecutive terms) is calculated.

33 (1) This paragraph applies where two or more sentences are to be served consecutively on each other and— U.K.

(a) one or more of those sentences is a 1967 Act sentence, and

(b) one or more of them is a 2003 Act sentence.

(2) Section 264 does not affect the length of the period which P must serve in prison in respect of the 1967 Act sentence or sentences.

(3) Nothing in this Chapter requires the Secretary of State to release P until P has served a period equal in length to the aggregate of the length of the periods which P must serve in relation to each of the sentences mentioned in sub-paragraph (1).

[F3 (4) If P is subject to supervision requirements under section 256AA (by virtue of section 264(3C)(b)), section 256AA(4)(b) (end of supervision period) applies in relation to P as if the reference to the requisite custodial period were to the period described in sub-paragraph (3) of this paragraph.]]

Textual Amendments

F3 Sch. 20B para. 33(4) inserted (1.2.2015) by Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 (c. 11), ss. 5(8), 22(1) (with Sch. 7 para. 2); S.I. 2015/40, art. 2(e)