Legislation – Sentencing Act 2026
Part 2Management of offenders after sentencing
Recall and further release
31Further release after recall: relevant young offenders suitable for automatic release
(1)
Section 255B of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 is amended as follows.
(2)
In the heading, after “release” insert “: relevant young offenders”
.
(3)
“(1)
A relevant young offender who is suitable for automatic release at the end of the section 255B automatic release period (“P”) must—
(a)
on return to prison, be informed that they will be released under this section (subject to subsections (8) and (9)), and
(b)
at the end of the section 255B automatic release period, be released by the Secretary of State on licence under this Chapter (unless P is released before that date under subsection (2) or (5)).
(1A)
In the case of a relevant young offender recalled under section 254 while on licence under a provision of this Chapter other than section 246, “the section 255B automatic release period” means—
(a)
where the offender is serving a sentence of less than 12 months, the period of 14 days beginning with the day on which the offender returns to custody;
(b)
where the offender is serving a sentence of 12 months or more, the period of 28 days beginning with that day.
(1B)
In the case of a relevant young offender recalled under section 254 while on licence under section 246, “the section 255B automatic release period” means whichever of the following ends later—
(b)
the requisite custodial period which the offender would have served under section 243A or 244 but for the earlier release.”
(4)
In subsection (9), in the words before paragraph (a) and in paragraph (b), for “automatic release” substitute “release at the end of the section 255B automatic release period”
.