Part 12Sentencing
Chapter 6 Release, licences and recall
Fine defaulters and contemnors
258Early release of fine defaulters and contemnors
(1)
This section applies in relation to a person committed to prison—
(a)
in default of payment of a sum adjudged to be paid by a conviction, or
(b)
for contempt of court or any kindred offence.
(2)
As soon as a person to whom this section applies has served one-half of the term for which he was committed, it is the duty of the Secretary of State to release him unconditionally.
F1(2A)
Subsection (2) is subject to paragraph 35 of Schedule 20B (transitional cases).
(3)
Where a person to whom this section applies is also serving one or more sentences of imprisonment, nothing in this section F2or in paragraph 35 of Schedule 20B requires the Secretary of State to release him until he is also required to release him in respect of that sentence or each of those sentences.
F3(3A)
The reference in subsection (3) to sentences of imprisonment includes sentences of detention under section 91 or 96 of the Sentencing Act or under section F4226A, 226B, 227 or 228 of this Act.
(4)
The Secretary of State may at any time release unconditionally a person to whom this section applies if he is satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist which justify the person’s release on compassionate grounds.