Part IDetention, Transfer and Release of Offenders
Early release
1Release of short-term, long-term and life prisoners
1
As soon as a short-term prisoner has served one-half of his sentence the Secretary of State shall, without prejudice to any supervised release order to which the prisoner is subject, release him unconditionally.
2
As soon as a long-term prisoner has served two-thirds of his sentence, the Secretary of State shall release him on licence.
3
After a long-term prisoner has served one-half of his sentence the Secretary of State may, if recommended to do so by the Parole Board under this section, release him on licence.
4
If recommended to do so by the Parole Board under this section, the Secretary of State may, after consultation with—
a
the Lord Justice General, whom failing the Lord Justice Clerk; and
b
if available, the trial judge,
release on licence a life prisoner who is not a discretionary life prisoner.
5
The Parole Board shall not make a recommendation under subsection (4) above unless the Secretary of State has referred the case to the Board for its advice.
6
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, the Secretary of State shall not release a person who is serving—
a
a sentence of imprisonment for a term and one or more sentences of imprisonment for life; or
b
more than one sentence of imprisonment for life,
unless and until the requirements of those provisions are satisfied in respect of each of those sentences.
7
A person to whom subsection (6) above applies shall, when released on licence under this section, be released on a single licence under subsection (4) above.
8
Schedule 1 to this Act, which makes special provision as respects the release of persons serving both a sentence of imprisonment imposed on conviction of an offence and a term of imprisonment or detention referred to in section 5(1)(a) or (b) of this Act, shall have effect.