Legal issues
Which sentences are covered
Only standard determinate sentences. Life sentences, extended determinate sentences, sentences for offenders of particular concern and indeterminate sentences have their own rules.
Excluded offences
The Ministry of Justice publishes the list of offences excluded from the new release points. Exclusions announced in August 2026 include rape, serious child sexual and grooming offences, unlawful killing (including manslaughter and causing death by dangerous, careless or drunk driving), indecent assault and historic child sexual offences, together with attempts, conspiracies and assisting those offences. Sentences for excluded offences keep the previous release point.
Existing prisoners
People already serving sentences on 1 October 2026 move to the new release points in tranches by sentence length, between 1 October 2026 and 8 June 2027.
Additional days
From 2 September 2026, up to 84 additional days can be added for each proven breach of prison rules.
Children
Sentences for offences committed as a child under section 250 of the Sentencing Code are not affected by these changes.
Evidence that matters
Release dates are calculated by the prison. If a calculation looks wrong, the sentencing record and remand time are the key documents.
Reasonable lines of enquiry
If a release date looks wrong
- Check time on remand and on qualifying curfew was credited.
- Check whether any offence is on the excluded list.
- Check consecutive and concurrent sentences were combined correctly.
What happens next
On release you are on licence with conditions, which can include tagging, residence and testing. Breach can lead to recall to prison.
Immediate steps
- Ask the prison for the calculated release date in writing.
- Keep the sentencing remarks and any record of remand time.
What should you send us?
Send the sentence, offence, date of sentence and any release date the prison has given.