NCJ Number
145262
Journal
Key to Commonwealth Corrections Issue: 25 Dated: (Autumn 1993) Pages: 15-18
Editor(s)
T G P Garner
Date Published
1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Part II of England's Criminal Justice Act of 1991 has changed procedures for the early release of prisoners based on recommendations of the Carlisle Committee and a white paper on Crime, Justice, and Protecting the Public.
Abstract
The new scheme, which affects all prisoners sentenced on or after October 1, 1992, abolishes remission and changes the way in which parole operates. The new procedures stipulate that all prisoners are eligible for early release. For those serving less than 4 years, release is automatic when half the sentence has been served. Those serving 4 years or more are subject to a new parole scheme in which the parole board sees all cases. The new procedures cover automatic conditional, unconditional, and discretionary conditional release and incorporate criteria for the release of both short-term and long-term prisoners. In addition, they indicate that long-term prisoners released on a parole license and who breach parole conditions may be returned to prison by the parole board to serve the rest of their sentence. Whether release is conditional or unconditional, the Criminal Justice Act provides that all released prisoners can be returned to prison if they commit an imprisonable offense during the period between release and the end of their sentence. Young offenders are subject to the same early release arrangements as adults, although the new procedures make special additional arrangements for young offenders under 22 years of age who are released from custody. The Criminal Justice Act also covers fine defaulters, sex offenders, deportees, and compassionate release.