Release
If the panel is satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the lifer is detained, then they will direct release on life licence. If the panel does not direct release, the lifer is entitled to have further reviews of their case at intervals of not more than two years. The exact period between reviews is set by Lifer Review and Recall Section (a department of NOMS) depending on what further work is needed.
Once released, lifers remain on life licence and can be recalled to prison by the Home Secretary or the Parole Board if the terms of the licence are breached or if the behaviour of the prisoner causes concern. If a prisoner in this position is recalled, a further review will be conducted by the Parole Board at an oral hearing to decide on the fairness of the recall.
Compassionate Release
All prisoners are entitled to apply for permanent compassionate release from prison at any time in their sentence. The power to grant compassionate release rests with the Secretary of State and is a wholly discretionary power. The guidelines issued state that it will be considered in cases where a prisoner is terminally ill or in tragic family circumstances where there is an urgent and immediate need for the presence of the prisoner in the family home. In both cases, the facts giving rise to the application must be new, that is they were not known at the time sentence was passed, and the Secretary of State needs to be satisfied that there is no risk of further crimes being committed. In order for an application to be made, the governor of the prison must forward the case to the Sentence Enforcement Unit of NOMS who will then consider whether the case should be referred to the Parole Board for advice. Only a tiny number of these applications are granted each year and the power is most often used in cases where a prisoner is terminally ill to enable the prisoner to be released to a hospice or hospital. Applications based on tragic family circumstances are very rarely granted.
Temporary Release
Prisoners may be released for a set period, usually between two and five days, on the authority of the prison governor. This can be for compassionate reasons, such as attendance at a funeral or for medical treatment, or for work purposes on a facility licence or finally to go home on a resettlement licence. Before temporary release can be granted, the prisoner must pass a risk assessment carried out in the prison. Compassionate temporary release can be granted at any point in the sentence, but is not available to category A prisoners.
A resettlement licence can be granted after the prisoner has reached the parole eligibility date, but if parole is refused, the application will be suspended for a period of six months. For those serving less than four years, an application can be made after they have served one-third of the sentence. Certain groups are ineligible for any form of temporary release, such as high-risk prisoners.
Lifers are not eligible for temporary release until moved to open prison. However, they can apply for escorted town visits once they are in a category C prison.
Discharge
On release, personal clothing and belongings are returned. Suitable clothing will be provided if the prisoner's clothing is inadequate. Money received on reception will be returned and most prisoners will be eligible for a discharge grant. Those serving less than fourteen days are not entitled to the discharge grant, though the prison authorities may give a subsistence allowance to enable you to get to the local DSS office. A travel warrant to an address in the United Kingdom will also be given.
Once released, lifers remain on life licence and can be recalled to prison by the Home Secretary or the Parole Board if the terms of the licence are breached or if the behaviour of the prisoner causes concern. If a prisoner in this position is recalled, a further review will be conducted by the Parole Board at an oral hearing to decide on the fairness of the recall.
Compassionate Release
All prisoners are entitled to apply for permanent compassionate release from prison at any time in their sentence. The power to grant compassionate release rests with the Secretary of State and is a wholly discretionary power. The guidelines issued state that it will be considered in cases where a prisoner is terminally ill or in tragic family circumstances where there is an urgent and immediate need for the presence of the prisoner in the family home. In both cases, the facts giving rise to the application must be new, that is they were not known at the time sentence was passed, and the Secretary of State needs to be satisfied that there is no risk of further crimes being committed. In order for an application to be made, the governor of the prison must forward the case to the Sentence Enforcement Unit of NOMS who will then consider whether the case should be referred to the Parole Board for advice. Only a tiny number of these applications are granted each year and the power is most often used in cases where a prisoner is terminally ill to enable the prisoner to be released to a hospice or hospital. Applications based on tragic family circumstances are very rarely granted.
Temporary Release
Prisoners may be released for a set period, usually between two and five days, on the authority of the prison governor. This can be for compassionate reasons, such as attendance at a funeral or for medical treatment, or for work purposes on a facility licence or finally to go home on a resettlement licence. Before temporary release can be granted, the prisoner must pass a risk assessment carried out in the prison. Compassionate temporary release can be granted at any point in the sentence, but is not available to category A prisoners.
A resettlement licence can be granted after the prisoner has reached the parole eligibility date, but if parole is refused, the application will be suspended for a period of six months. For those serving less than four years, an application can be made after they have served one-third of the sentence. Certain groups are ineligible for any form of temporary release, such as high-risk prisoners.
Lifers are not eligible for temporary release until moved to open prison. However, they can apply for escorted town visits once they are in a category C prison.
Discharge
On release, personal clothing and belongings are returned. Suitable clothing will be provided if the prisoner's clothing is inadequate. Money received on reception will be returned and most prisoners will be eligible for a discharge grant. Those serving less than fourteen days are not entitled to the discharge grant, though the prison authorities may give a subsistence allowance to enable you to get to the local DSS office. A travel warrant to an address in the United Kingdom will also be given.
