Criminal Justice Act 2003

Valid from 14/07/2008

[F1 255B Automatic release E+W

(1) A prisoner who is suitable for automatic release must—

(a) on his return to prison, be informed that he will be released under this subsection, and

(b) at the end of the 28 day period mentioned in section 255A(4) (or such other period as is specified for the purposes of that subsection), be released by the Secretary of State on licence under this Chapter (unless he has already been released under subsection (2)).

(2) The Secretary of State may, at any time after a prisoner who is suitable for automatic release is returned to prison, release him again on licence under this Chapter.

(3) The Secretary of State must not release a person under subsection (2) unless the Secretary of State is satisfied that it is not necessary for the protection of the public that he should remain in prison until the end of the period mentioned in subsection (1)(b).

(4) If a prisoner who is suitable for automatic release makes representations under section 254(2) before the end of that period, the Secretary of State must refer his case to the Board on the making of those representations.

(5) Where on a reference under subsection (4) relating to any person the Board recommends his immediate release on licence under this Chapter, the Secretary of State must give effect to the recommendation.

(6) In the case of an intermittent custody prisoner who has not yet served in prison the number of custodial days specified in the intermittent custody order, any recommendation by the Board as to immediate release on licence is to be a recommendation as to his release on licence until the end of one of the licence periods specified by virtue of section 183(1)(b) in the intermittent custody order.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 255A-255D inserted (14.7.2008 save insofar as the amending provision inserts subsections (9) and (10) of section 255A and otherwise 31.10.2009) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 29(2), 153 (with Sch. 27 para. 11); S.I. 2008/1586, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 15 (subject to Sch. 2 para. 3); S.I. 2009/2606, art. 3(c)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 255A-256A applied (with modifications) (14.7.2008) by Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53), s. 50A(3)(4) (as inserted by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 32(1), 153 (with Sch. 27 para. 12); S.I. 2008/1586, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 18)