Criminal Justice Act 2003

244 Duty to release prisoners [F1 not subject to special provision for release] E+W

(1) As soon as a fixed-term prisoner, other than a prisoner to whom section [F2 243A [F3 , [F4 244ZA,] 244A] [F5 , 246A]] [F6 , 247 or 247A] applies, has served the requisite custodial period [F7 for the purposes of this section], it is the duty of the Secretary of State to release him on licence under this section.

[F8 (1ZA) Subsection (1) does not apply if—

(a) the prisoner’s case has been referred to the Board under section 244ZB, or

(b) a notice given to the prisoner under subsection (4) of that section is in force.]

[F9 (1A) Subsection (1) does not apply if the prisoner has been released on licence under section 246 [F10 or 248] and recalled under section 254 (provision for the release of such persons being made by sections 255B and 255C).]

F11 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) [F12 For the purposes of this section] “the requisite custodial period” means—

(a) [F13 in relation to a prisoner serving one sentence], one-half of his sentence,

F14 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F14 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d) in relation to a person serving two or more concurrent or consecutive sentences F15 ... , the period determined under sections 263(2) and [F16 264(2B) or (2E)].

[F17 (4) This section is subject to paragraphs 5, 6, 8, 25 and 28 of Schedule 20B (transitional cases).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 244 heading inserted (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 130(2)(a), 208(5)(m)

F2 Words in s. 244(1) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 14 para. 6(2)(a); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(l)

F3 Word in s. 244(1) inserted (13.4.2015) by Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (c. 2), s. 95(1), Sch. 1 para. 5; S.I. 2015/778, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 72

F4 Word in s. 244(1) inserted (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 130(2)(b), 208(5)(m)

F5 Word in s. 244(1) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 125(2), 151(1); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(e)

F6 Words in s. 244(1) substituted (26.2.2020) by Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Act 2020 (c. 3), ss. 2(3), 10(4)

F7 Words in s. 244(1) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 14 para. 6(2)(b); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(l)

F8 S. 244(1ZA) inserted (28.4.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 132(3), 208(4)(p)

F9 S. 244(1A) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 114(2), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)

F10 Words in s. 244(1A) inserted (1.2.2015) by Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 (c. 11), ss. 9(2), 22(1) (with Sch. 7 para. 5); S.I. 2015/40, art. 2(i)

F11 S. 244(2) omitted (3.12.2012) by virtue of Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 10 para. 21(2); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(h)

F12 Words in s. 244(3) substituted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 14 para. 6(3)(a); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(l)

F13 Words in s. 244(3)(a) substituted (1.2.2015) by Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 (c. 11), s. 22(1), Sch. 3 para. 18 (with Sch. 7 para. 2); S.I. 2015/40, art. 2(u)

F14 S. 244(3)(b)(c) omitted (3.12.2012) by virtue of Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 10 para. 21(3)(a); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(h); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(h)

F15 Words in s. 244(3)(d) omitted (3.12.2012) by virtue of Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 10 para. 21(3)(b); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(h)

F16 Words in s. 244(3)(d) substituted (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 144(4), 208(5)(p)

F17 S. 244(4) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 17 para. 2; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(o)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. 12 Ch. 6 modified (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 245(1)(2)(c), 416(1) (with ss. 2, 245(3), 398(1), 406, Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

C2 Pt. 12 Ch. 6 modified (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 244(1)(2)(c), 416(1) (with ss. 2, 244(3), 398(1), 406, Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

C3 Pt. 12 Ch. 6 applied (29.6.2021) by 1984 c. 47, Sch. para. 2(3B) (as inserted by Counter Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 (c. 11), s. 50(2)(r), Sch. 11 para. 2)

C4 S. 244 modified (10.9.2024 for specified purposes, 22.10.2024 in so far as not already in force) by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Requisite and Minimum Custodial Periods) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/844), arts. 1(2), 3

C5 S. 244(3)(a) modified (1.4.2020) by The Release of Prisoners (Alteration of Relevant Proportion of Sentence) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/158), arts. 1, 3 (with art. 5)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 244 partly in force; s. 244 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 336(3); s. 244(1)(2)(3)(c)(d) in force for certain purposes at 26.1.2004 by S.I. 2003/3282, art. 2, Sch.; s. 244(1)(2)(3)(a)(d) in force at 4.4.2005 by S.I. 2005/950, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 19 (subject to art. 2(2), Sch. 2)