Criminal Justice Act 1991

37 Duration and conditions of licences. E+W

(1) Subject to [F1 subsections (1A), (1B) and (2)] below, where a short-term or long-term prisoner is released on licence, the licence shall, subject to F2 . . . any revocation under section 39(1) or (2) below, remain in force until the date on which he would (but for his release) have served three-quarters of his sentence.

[F3 (1A) Where a prisoner is released on licence under section 33(3) or (3A) above, subsection (1) above shall have effect as if for the reference to three-quarters of his sentence there were substituted a reference to the whole of that sentence.]

[F4 (1B) Where a prisoner whose sentence is for a term of twelve months or more is released on licence under section 33A(2) or 34A(3) above, subsection (1) above shall have effect as if for the reference to three-quarters of his sentence there were substituted a reference to the difference between—

(a) that proportion of his sentence; and

(b) the duration of the curfew condition to which he is or was subject.]

(2) Where a prisoner whose sentence is for a term of less than twelve months is released on licence under [F5 section 34A(3) or 36(1) above], subsection (1) above shall have effect as if for the reference to three-quarters of his sentence there were substituted a reference to one-half of that sentence.

F6 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F6 (4) A person subject to a licence [F7 under this Part]] shall comply with such conditions F8 . . . as may for the time being be specified in the licence; and the Secretary of State may make rules for regulating the supervision of any description of such persons.

[F9 (4A) The conditions so specified may in the case of a person released on licence under section 34A above whose sentence is for a term of less than twelve months, and shall in any other case, include on the person’s release conditions as to his supervision by—

(a) [F10 an officer of a local probation board] appointed for or assigned to the petty sessions area within which the person resides for the time being; or

(b) where the person is under the age of 18 years, a member of a youth offending team established by the local authority within whose area the person resides for the time being.]

[F11 (5) The Secretary of State shall not include on release, or subsequently insert, a condition in the licence of a long-term prisoner, or vary or cancel any such condition, except after consultation with the Board.]

(6) For the purposes of subsection (5) above, the Secretary of State shall be treated as having consulted the Board about a proposal to include, insert, vary or cancel a condition in any case if he has consulted the Board about the implementation of proposals of that description generally or in that class of case.

(7) The power to make rules under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 37(1) substituted (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 119, Sch. 8 para. 83(1)(a); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)(y)(2)(z).

F2 Words in s. 37(1) repealed (1.1.1999) by 1998 c. 37, ss. 119, 120(2), Sch. 8 para. 83(1)(b), Sch. 10 (with Sch. 9 para. 12); S.I. 1998/3263, art. 2(b)(d).

F3 S. 37(1A) inserted (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 104(2) (with Sch. 9 para. 13); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)(w).

F4 S. 37(1B) inserted (1.1.1999) by 1998 c. 37, ss. 119, 120(2), Sch. 8 para. 83(2); S.I. 1998/3263, art. 2(b).

F5 Words in s. 37(2) substituted (1.1.1999) by 1998 c. 37, s. 119, Sch. 8 para. 83(3); S.I. 1998/3263, art. 2(b).

F6 S. 37(3), and s. 37(4) so far as relating to life prisoners repealed (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, ss. 56(2), 57(2), Sch. 6 (subject to transitional provisions and savings in s. 56(1), Sch. 5 para. 1); S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1)(p)(3)(d) (subject to transitional provisions and savings in art. 5).

F7 Words in s. 37(4) inserted (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 119, Sch. 8 para. 83(4)(a); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)(y)(2)(z).

F8 Words in s. 37(4) repealed (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, ss. 119, 120(2), Sch.8 para. 83(4)(b), Sch. 10; S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)(y)(aa)(2)(z)(3)(t).

F9 S. 37(4A) inserted (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 119, Sch. 8 para. 83(5); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)(2)(y)(2)(z).

F10 Words in s. 37(4A)(a) substituted (1.4.2001) by 2000 c. 43, s. 74, Sch. 7 Pt. I para. 4(1)(a)(2); S.I. 2001/919, art. 2(f)(i)

F11 S. 37(5) substituted (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 119, Sch. 8 para. 83(6); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)(y)(2)(Z).

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 37 modified (1.10.1992) by S.I. 1992/1829, art. 3.

S. 37 applied (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, ss. 44, 56(1), Sch. 1 Pt. II paras. 8(2)(4), 9(2)(b)(4), Sch. 5 paras. 9(1)(a)(b)(2)(b), 10(1)(b)(c)(2)(b); S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1).

Ss. 34-37 applied (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, ss. 41, 56(1), Sch. 1 Pt. II paras. 8, 9(2)(a), Sch. 5 paras. 9(2)(a), 10(2)(a); S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1).

S. 37 modified (19.9.1998) by S.I. 1998/2327, art. 5(3)(d).

C2 S. 37(1)(2) amended (retrospectively) by 1984 c. 47, Sch. para. 2 as modified (retrospectively) by 1997 c. 43, s. 42, Sch. 2 para. 2(1)(2); S.I. 1997/2200 , art. 2(1)

S. 37(1)(2) amended (1.10.1997) by 1984 c. 47, Sch. para. 2 as modified (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, s. 42, Sch. 2 para. 2(1)(2); S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1).

C3 S. 37(1) modified (25.8.2000) by 2000 c. 6, ss. 86(1), 168(1)

C4 S. 37(1) modified (4.4.2005) by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No.8 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/950), arts. 2, 4, Sch. 2 para. 23 (as amended by S.I. 2005/ 2122, art. 2)

C5 S. 37(4A) modified by S.I. 1998/2327, art. 5(1)(a).

Commencement Information

I1 Pt. II (ss. 32-51) wholly in force at 1.10.1992 see s. 102(2)(3) and S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2.