Overview

This bill amends the Criminal Justice Act 1961 to change the rules about when offenders are released from prison and other secure facilities. The aim is to prevent releases falling on weekends or bank holidays, ensuring releases occur on working days to facilitate smoother transitions and access to support services.

Description

Key Changes

The bill modifies Section 23 of the Criminal Justice Act 1961. It allows the Secretary of State to direct that prisoners scheduled for release on a working day immediately preceding a non-working day (like a weekend or bank holiday) must instead be released on the preceding eligible working day. An "eligible working day" is defined as a working day not immediately followed by a non-working day. This change applies to adults in prison and those detained in secure children's homes and secure 16-19 academies under specific sentencing provisions of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.

Specific Amendments

The bill also amends the International Criminal Court Act 2001 to ensure consistency in release dates for individuals detained under that Act, aligning them with the changes made to the Criminal Justice Act 1961.

Geographical Extent

The main provisions of the bill apply to England and Wales. Certain aspects extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Government Spending

The bill is not expected to have a significant impact on government spending. The cost of implementing the changes is likely to be minimal, primarily related to administrative adjustments to release scheduling.

Groups Affected

• Prisoners in England and Wales: May experience a change in their release date, potentially being released a day or two earlier than originally scheduled to avoid weekends or bank holidays.
• Young people in secure children's homes and secure 16-19 academies in England and Wales: Subject to the same release date adjustments as adult prisoners.
• Prison staff and support services: May need to adjust their schedules to accommodate the new release procedures.
• Families and support networks of offenders: May need to adapt their plans to accommodate a potentially altered release date.

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