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The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008

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Changes over time for: Cross Heading: Duty . . . to release on licence

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Version Superseded: 13/05/2016

Status:

Point in time view as at 12/04/2010.

Changes to legislation:

The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008, Cross Heading: Duty . . . to release on licence is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 29 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Duty F1. . . to release on licenceN.I.

Duty to release certain fixed-term prisonersN.I.

17.—(1) As soon as a fixed-term prisoner, other than a prisoner serving an extended custodial sentence, has served the requisite custodial period, the [F2Department of Justice] shall release the prisoner on licence under this Article.

(2) In this Article “the requisite custodial period” means—

(a)subject to sub-paragraph (b), the custodial period specified by the court under Article 8;

(b)in relation to a person serving two or more concurrent or consecutive sentences, the period determined under Article 32(2) or 33(2)

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I1Art. 17 wholly in operation at 1.4.2009, see art. 1(4) and S.R. 2009/120, art. 2, Sch. 1 (subject to Sch. 2 paras. 2(2)(5), 4)

Duty to release prisoners serving indeterminate or extended custodial sentencesN.I.

18.—(1) This Article applies to a prisoner who is serving—

(a)an indeterminate custodial sentence; or

(b)an extended custodial sentence.

(2) In this Article—

P” means a prisoner to whom this Article applies;

relevant part of the sentence” means—

(a)

in relation to a indeterminate custodial sentence, the period specified by the court under Article 13(3) as the minimum period for the purposes of this Article;

(b)

in relation to an extended custodial sentence, one-half of the period determined by the court as the appropriate custodial term under Article 14.

(3) As soon as—

(a)P has served the relevant part of the sentence, and

(b)the Parole Commissioners have directed P's release under this Article,

the [F3Department of Justice] shall release P on licence under this Article.

(4) The Parole Commissioners shall not give a direction under paragraph (3) with respect to P unless—

(a)the [F3Department of Justice] has referred P's case to them; and

(b)they are satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public from serious harm that P should be confined.

(5) P may require the [F3Department of Justice] to refer P's case to the Parole Commissioners at any time—

(a)after P has served the relevant part of the sentence; and

(b)where there has been a previous reference of P's case to the Parole Commissioners, after the expiration of the period of 2 years beginning with the disposal of that reference or such shorter period as the Parole Commissioners may on the disposal of that reference determine;

and in this paragraph “previous reference” means a reference under paragraph (4) or Article 28(4).

(6) Where the Parole Commissioners do not direct P's release under paragraph (3)(b), the [F3Department of Justice] shall refer the case to them again not later than the expiration of the period of 2 years beginning with the disposal of that reference.

(7) In determining for the purpose of this Article whether P has served the relevant part of a sentence, no account shall be taken of any time during which P was unlawfully at large, unless the [F3Department of Justice] otherwise directs.

(8) Where P is serving an extended custodial sentence, the [F3Department of Justice] shall release P on licence under this Article as soon as the period determined by the court as the appropriate custodial term under Article 14 ends unless P has previously been recalled under Article 28

(9) The [F3Department of Justice] may by order provide that the reference in paragraph (b) of the definition of “relevant part of the sentence” in paragraph (2) to a particular proportion of a prisoner's sentence is to be read as a reference to such other proportion of a prisoner's sentence as may be specified in the order.

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