Found: The Law Society of England and Wales (CTB0113); Society of Conservative Lawyers (CTB0090) 47 Sentencing Act

Found: Minister Timpson told us that the Sentencing Act 2026—which was drafted in response to the recommendations

Found: pressure on the estate which is why we are implementing landmark sentencing reforms through the Sentencing Act

Found: 2026/385 The Mental Health Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2026 S.I. 2026/402 The Sentencing Act

Found: for publication: Correspondence from the Minister for Border Security & Asylum relating to the Sentencing Act

Found: largely as a result of: • Transformational reform of the criminal justice system, including the Sentencing Act

Found: sentencing framework has remained largely unchanged for many years, and was largely unaffected by the Sentencing Act

Found: We have gone further with the measures in the Sentencing Act 2026, which will be implemented on 1 June

Found: Q612 Chair: Well, under the Sentencing Act they will not be able to if it is a sentence of less than

Found: There are no anticipated changes to these as a result of the Sentencing Act.

Found: Now the Sentencing Act has passed we need to implement the reforms to create the headroom and breathing

Found: Q612 Chair: Well, under the Sentencing Act they will not be able to if it is a sentence of less than

Found: simplify the release process and reduce opportunities for error, through the implementation of the Sentencing Act

Found: We have just passed the Sentencing Act; that will lead to significant transformational changes.

Found: Title S.I. 2026/217 The Sentencing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provision) Regulations

Found: The second is that measures in the recent Sentencing Act such as a presumption to suspend short prison

Found: determinate sentences to 40%; and commissioning the Independent Sentencing Review and enacting the Sentencing Act

Found: also current challenges for neighbourhood policing, including the operational impact of the new Sentencing Act

Found: 40%; and commissioning the Independent Sentencing Review (ISR) and subsequently enacting the Sentencing Act

Found: simplify the release process and reduce opportunities for error, through the implementation of the Sentencing Act

Found: This covers the implementation of the Sentencing Act measures. 3.

Found: This covers the implementation of the Sentencing Act measures. 3.

Found: This covers the implementation of the Sentencing Act measures. 3.

Found: This covers the implementation of the Sentencing Act measures. 3.

Found: This covers the implementation of the Sentencing Act measures. 3.

Found: This covers the implementation of the Sentencing Act measures. 3.

Found: 40%; and commissioning the Independent Sentencing Review (ISR) and subsequently enacting the Sentencing Act

Found: submitted Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Act 2020 and Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act

Found: session is devoted exclusively to the Probation Service; given the changes coming under the Sentencing Act

Found: 40%; and commissioning the Independent Sentencing Review (ISR) and subsequently enacting the Sentencing Act

Found: decisive steps to stabilise the system, including through the Independent Sentencing Review and the Sentencing Act

Found: am confident that the reforms this Government is progressing, including implementation of the Sentencing Act

Found: session is devoted exclusively to the Probation Service; given the changes coming under the Sentencing Act

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will provide a list of the criminal charges which have been prosecuted with a "terrorism connection" under the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes official statistics on terrorism-related court outcomes in the quarterly statistical release Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation. This includes data on the number of persons proceeded against by the Crown Prosecution Service for terrorism-related offences, by offence, and the number convicted, by offence. The published tables also distinguish between offences under terrorism legislation and offences under non-terrorism legislation where the offence is considered terrorism-related. The latest statistical release is available for the year ending December 2025: Operation of police powers under TACT 2000, to December 2025 - GOV.UK.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many criminal cases have been prosecuted with a "terrorism connection" under the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Home Office publishes official statistics on terrorism-related court outcomes in the quarterly statistical release Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation. This includes data on the number of persons proceeded against by the Crown Prosecution Service for terrorism-related offences, by offence, and the number convicted, by offence. The published tables also distinguish between offences under terrorism legislation and offences under non-terrorism legislation where the offence is considered terrorism-related. The latest statistical release is available for the year ending December 2025: Operation of police powers under TACT 2000, to December 2025 - GOV.UK.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Sentencing Council guidelines for animal cruelty.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

When deciding what sentence to impose the courts are required to take into account the circumstances of the offence and the offender, including the culpability of the offender and the harm they caused. In setting a sentence, courts must follow any relevant sentencing guidelines issued by the Sentencing Council, unless it is not in the interests of justice to do so.

In July 2023, the Council issued a guideline on animal cruelty, which provides the Court with guidance on factors that should be considered, which may affect the sentence given. It sets out different levels of sentence based on the harm caused and how culpable the offender is. This is available on its website at: https://sentencingcouncil.org.uk/guidelines/animal-cruelty/.

As with all the guidelines it issues, the Council will monitor the operation of this guideline and will evaluate its effect after it has been in force for a period of time to allow sufficient evidence to be gathered and analysed.

The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 increased the maximum sentences for these offences, making them triable either way and now carrying a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and/or unlimited fine (an increase from six months).

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on immediate custody sentences for animal cruelty in England and Wales in the Outcomes by Offences data tool. This can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice Statistics.

The Government keeps the sentencing framework, including maximum penalties, under review.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of the use of custodial sentences for animal cruelty offences since the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 became law.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

When deciding what sentence to impose the courts are required to take into account the circumstances of the offence and the offender, including the culpability of the offender and the harm they caused. In setting a sentence, courts must follow any relevant sentencing guidelines issued by the Sentencing Council, unless it is not in the interests of justice to do so.

In July 2023, the Council issued a guideline on animal cruelty, which provides the Court with guidance on factors that should be considered, which may affect the sentence given. It sets out different levels of sentence based on the harm caused and how culpable the offender is. This is available on its website at: https://sentencingcouncil.org.uk/guidelines/animal-cruelty/.

As with all the guidelines it issues, the Council will monitor the operation of this guideline and will evaluate its effect after it has been in force for a period of time to allow sufficient evidence to be gathered and analysed.

The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 increased the maximum sentences for these offences, making them triable either way and now carrying a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and/or unlimited fine (an increase from six months).

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on immediate custody sentences for animal cruelty in England and Wales in the Outcomes by Offences data tool. This can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice Statistics.

The Government keeps the sentencing framework, including maximum penalties, under review.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment has been made of trends in the level of prison overcrowding.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Crowding data is published regularly in HMPPS’s Annual Digest, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hmpps-annual-digest-april-2024-to-march-2025.

The most recent data for the 12 months ending March 2025 shows:

• The crowding rate in prisons across England and Wales was 24.8%.

• Crowding levels have been around 25% since 2015.

• 21,616 prisoners were held in crowded conditions (i.e in accommodation above Certified Normal Accommodation).

• The adult male closed estate had a combined crowding rate of 28.7%.

We recognise that crowding can make it hard to deliver safe, stable regimes and places additional pressures on staff. This is why we continually monitor prison conditions and take places on and offline depending on safety, stability, staffing levels and maintenance needs. Alongside this, we are increasing capacity at record rates, we have already delivered c.3,100 prison places since taking office. Our landmark Sentencing Act will also pave the way for further reform of our prison system so we can create better conditions and outcomes for prisoners.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners are currently held in cells operating above certified normal accommodation; and what proportion of the adult male closed estate is operating above 100% of certified normal accommodation.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Crowding data is published regularly in HMPPS’s Annual Digest, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hmpps-annual-digest-april-2024-to-march-2025.

The most recent data for the 12 months ending March 2025 shows:

• The crowding rate in prisons across England and Wales was 24.8%.

• Crowding levels have been around 25% since 2015.

• 21,616 prisoners were held in crowded conditions (i.e in accommodation above Certified Normal Accommodation).

• The adult male closed estate had a combined crowding rate of 28.7%.

We recognise that crowding can make it hard to deliver safe, stable regimes and places additional pressures on staff. This is why we continually monitor prison conditions and take places on and offline depending on safety, stability, staffing levels and maintenance needs. Alongside this, we are increasing capacity at record rates, we have already delivered c.3,100 prison places since taking office. Our landmark Sentencing Act will also pave the way for further reform of our prison system so we can create better conditions and outcomes for prisoners.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have carried out an Equality Impact Assessment on the provisions of the Sentencing Act 2026 with specific reference to the progression model; and, if so, whether it has been published.

Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

An Equality Impact Assessment was undertaken for the provisions of the Sentencing Act 2026, including those relating to the Progression model. This analysis was published in the Sentencing Bill equality statement, which is available on GOV.UK via the following link and has also been attached as an annex: Sentencing Bill equalities statement

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to tackle deliberate harm to wild birds and animals in rural areas.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects all wild birds and some wild animals. The Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 makes it illegal to commit malicious acts against a wild mammal. Anyone who commits an offence under this legislation could face up to a six-month custodial sentence and/or an unlimited fine.

In addition, while the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 generally protects domesticated animals, it can extend to wildlife as it prohibits causing unnecessary suffering to wild animals under human control, for example when they are held in a hand. Under this Act, the maximum sentence for animal cruelty is five years.

Defra supports the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), which helps prevent and detect wildlife crime. The NWCU undertakes analysis that highlights local or national threats and assists law enforcers in their investigations. Defra is providing £530,000 for NWCU in the financial year 2026-2027.

Furthermore, this Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy includes a commitment to consider strengthening penalties for wider acts of cruelty to wildlife so they are consistent with penalties for cruelty to pets and livestock. It also makes clear that this Government will deliver on the manifesto commitment to ban the use of snare traps in England.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the statistical analysis of prison leavers in England entitled Prison leavers in substance misuse treatment: 4-week outcomes – report, published 23 April 2026.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Department of Health and Social Care’s analytical report on Prison Leavers in Substance Misuse Treatment: 4-week outcomes provides valuable data on the early outcomes of prison leavers receiving substance misuse treatment, including mortality and reincarceration rates, and differences in treatment engagement for different cohorts. We recognise that the first few weeks after release are high-risk for relapse, overdose and reoffending, and we are determined to ensure prison leavers have a smooth transition into the community, with swift access to care and treatment.

In England, improving health outcomes for people in prison and on probation is a shared priority across the Ministry of Justice, Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England. We have recruited over 50 Health and Justice Partnership Coordinators to strengthen links between prison, probation and treatment providers. We are improving information sharing between treatment providers and probation and enabling virtual pre-release appointments with community treatment providers via secure laptops. NHS England’s RECONNECT service also supports prison leavers with identified health needs to engage with the right health services in the community through referrals and peer support.

The report indicates that people in prison for shorter periods were less likely to be in treatment. This aligns with the rationale for key provisions within the Sentencing Act 2026, including the introduction of a presumption for the courts to suspend short sentences of 12 months or less. Around 60% of adults sentenced for under a year reoffend within 12 months. This is unacceptably high for victims and the public. The evidence shows that those given a community order or suspended sentence reoffend less than similar offenders given a short prison sentence.

We have also made changes to fixed term recall. The Independent Sentencing Review found the previous shorter 14 and 28 day fixed-term recalls did not provide enough time for offenders to address their criminal behaviour. 56 days provides more time to undertake a risk assessment and a thorough review of risk management plans to ensure offenders can be safely managed in the community.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Office for Equalities and Opportunities on the potential impact of the shortening of custodial sentences on women's centres' (a) resources and (b) capacity, in relation to women who were previously receiving support whilst incarcerated.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Sentencing Act introduces a presumption to suspend short sentences. Along with increased use of suspended sentences and increased flexibility to defer a sentence for longer, this is expected to reduce the number of women going to prison. We know that around 60% of adults sentenced for under a year reoffend within 12 months, and evidence shows that those given a community-based sentence reoffend less than similar offenders given a short prison sentence.

Women’s centres play an important role in supporting women in the justice system – they are funded from a range of sources, including government grants and independent funding from trusts and foundations.

HMPPS-funded Women’s Commissioned Rehabilitative Services provide support for women in custody and the community and are delivered by specialist organisations including women’s centres. These services are currently being recommissioned and the future Community Support service will commence around September 2028.

In addition, the Ministry of Justice is providing £31.6 million in funding over the 2026-2029 Spending Review period for women’s community and voluntary organisations to strengthen diversion pathways and build capacity within the sector. This funding represents an increase of £10 million across the period.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of overcrowding in prisons on (a) prisoner violence and (b) attacks on prison staff.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

We recognise that crowding can make it harder to deliver safe, stable regimes and places additional pressure on staff. Analysis published by the department shows that prisoners in crowded cells are more likely to be involved in assaults than those not in crowded conditions. That is why we continually monitor prison conditions and take places on and offline depending on safety, stability, staffing levels and maintenance needs.

As set out in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, we have committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places and aim to do so by 2031. We are investing £4.7 billion over the spending review period (2026/27 to 2029/30) towards the delivery of these additional prison places, and we have already delivered c.3,100 since taking office. Alongside increasing capacity at record rates, our Sentencing Act 2026 will place the prison population on a more sustainable footing and pave the way for further reforms.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to increase prison capacity.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

We recognise that crowding can make it harder to deliver safe, stable regimes and places additional pressure on staff. Analysis published by the department shows that prisoners in crowded cells are more likely to be involved in assaults than those not in crowded conditions. That is why we continually monitor prison conditions and take places on and offline depending on safety, stability, staffing levels and maintenance needs.

As set out in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, we have committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places and aim to do so by 2031. We are investing £4.7 billion over the spending review period (2026/27 to 2029/30) towards the delivery of these additional prison places, and we have already delivered c.3,100 since taking office. Alongside increasing capacity at record rates, our Sentencing Act 2026 will place the prison population on a more sustainable footing and pave the way for further reforms.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent steps his Department has taken to tackle overcrowding in prisons.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

We recognise that crowding can make it harder to deliver safe, stable regimes and places additional pressure on staff. Analysis published by the department shows that prisoners in crowded cells are more likely to be involved in assaults than those not in crowded conditions. That is why we continually monitor prison conditions and take places on and offline depending on safety, stability, staffing levels and maintenance needs.

As set out in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, we have committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places and aim to do so by 2031. We are investing £4.7 billion over the spending review period (2026/27 to 2029/30) towards the delivery of these additional prison places, and we have already delivered c.3,100 since taking office. Alongside increasing capacity at record rates, our Sentencing Act 2026 will place the prison population on a more sustainable footing and pave the way for further reforms.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has assessed the potential impact of prison overcrowding on staff safety.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Ministry of Justice research on crowding and violence in the adult closed estate in 2022 shows that prisoners in overcrowded cells are 19% more likely to be involved in an assault over a one-year period than those in cells that are not overcrowded.

The details of this report can be found here: The impact of overcrowding on assaults in closed adult public prisons - GOV.UK

As set out in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, we have committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places and aim to do so by 2031. We are investing £4.7 billion over the spending review period (2026/27 to 2029/30) towards the delivery of these additional prison places, and we have already delivered c.3,100 since taking office. Alongside increasing capacity at record rates, our Sentencing Act 2026 will place the prison population on a more sustainable footing and pave the way for further reforms.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners were released early in Lincolnshire in the last 12 months.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

This Government inherited prisons days from collapse. We had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe.

Without the changes this Government made, courts would have had to halt trials and the police cancel arrests, undermining public safety and leading to a disastrous impact on public confidence in the criminal justice system.

We regularly publish data on release from prison, including on forms of early release – for example we publish SDS40 data alongside the quarterly Offender Management statistics: Standard Determinate Sentence (SDS40) release data - GOV.UK.

Whilst measures like the SDS40 change provided the intended medium-term relief to the system, this was only ever a temporary change as a bridge to a more sustainable solution. That is why the Sentencing Act has now been passed, to ensure we never run out of prison space again and to deliver a more sustainable solution to the prison capacity crisis.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Sentencing Act 2020 to record crimes motivated by misogyny as hate crimes.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government has no current plans to extend the Sentencing Act 2020 to include sex as an aggravating factor in the enhanced sentencing regime.

However, an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill has added sex to the list of protected characteristics under the aggravated offences in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. When this provision has been implemented – offences listed in the Act motivated by hostility against someone’s sex or presumed sex can be charged as an aggravated offence and the courts will be able to impose a longer sentence on conviction beyond those provided for in the Sentencing Act 2020.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the implementation of fixed release dates by the Parole Board.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Prisoners serving a determinate sentence are usually released automatically at a point fixed by legislation relating to their sentence. In contrast, indeterminate sentenced prisoners can only be released by the Parole Board after the expiry of their tariff. They must serve a minimum term, in full, in prison, at the end of which they can only be released if the independent Parole Board is satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public for the offender to be confined. Therefore, introducing release dates fixed by the Parole Board would primarily affect indeterminate sentences.

In accordance with legislation, an indeterminate sentenced prisoner must have a parole review to consider whether the release test is met and if not, to confirm further detention. Reviews take place just prior to tariff expiry and then at least every two years thereafter. The setting of fixed release dates would not be compatible with the need for release to be based on the current risk posed by offenders and whether they could be managed safely if released into the community on licence.

During the passage of the Sentencing Act 2026, the House of Lords voted against an amendment to legislate for the Parole Board to fix a future release date for IPP prisoners.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the a) deterrents and b) sentences issued to repeat offenders.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Prolific offenders represent nearly 10% of offenders but account for just over 50% of all sentences. That clearly cannot continue. Their offending, while not high harm, hurts local communities through shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.

Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the courts and parliament has provided the courts with a broad range of sentencing powers to deal effectively and appropriately with offenders. When deciding what sentence to impose, courts must consider the circumstances of the case, including the culpability of the offender, the harm they caused or intended to cause, and any aggravating and mitigating factors. The courts also have a statutory duty to follow any relevant sentencing guidelines, developed by the Sentencing Council for England and Wales.

Previous convictions are a statutory aggravating factor, with sentencing guidelines being clear that sentencers must consider the nature and relevance of previous convictions, and the time elapsed since the previous convictions. For more serious prolific offending, we are clear that custody has a crucial role to play as a robust backstop, within the maximum penalties set out in statute.

The Sentencing Act 2026 introduced a presumption to suspend short sentences of 12 months or less. Around 60% of adults sentenced for under a year reoffend within 12 months, whereas the evidence shows that those given a community order or suspended sentence reoffend less than similar offenders given a short prison sentence. We are following the evidence to reduce crime, leading to fewer victims and safer communities. Short prison sentences will continue to be available where an offender has breached a court order, including breaching the requirements of a previous suspended sentence order or committing a further offence, as well as where an individual is at significant risk of harm and in exceptional circumstances.

There are a range of tools in the community available to tackle prolific offenders. Integrated Offender Management (IOM) sees joint management of the most persistent and problematic neighbourhood crime offenders by probation, police, and other partnership agencies providing cross-agency supervision and support. Our new approach on Intensive Supervision Courts will impose tough measures that address the causes of prolific offending.

We are investing up to £700 million in probation and community services by 2028/29 to help rebuild the Probation Service to deliver a strong, professional service at the heart of the criminal justice system. We will continue to work with cross government partners and police forces to consider new ways of targeting and focusing on persistent and prolific offenders.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the automatic release of Standard Determinate Recall prisoners under the Sentencing Act 2026 on public protection; and if he will publish the (a) criteria used to determine exemptions from automatic release and (b) number of prisoners expected to be released in each tranche between 31 March and 12 May 2026; and what safeguards are in place to manage cases involving people assessed as presenting a high risk of serious harm.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

An Impact Assessment, published on 1 September 2025, set out the expected effects of the automatic release following the implementation of the recall provisions in the Sentencing Act 2026, including their implications for public protection. Eligible offenders will be released from prisons across England and Wales; the precise number of offenders released via each tranche will be known once individual cases are processed. Details of changes to the recall population are published regularly in Offender Management Statistics.

Public protection remains paramount. We have gone further than the Independent Sentencing Review recommended by excluding offenders assessed as posing a greater risk, including those managed at the higher levels of Multi‑Agency Public Protection Arrangements. Furthermore, over 17,000 prisoners are serving sentences that will not be affected by these reforms: this includes those serving Extended Determinate Sentences, along with Life and Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences.

Additionally, the Secretary of State can convert a fixed‑term recall to a standard recall in exceptional circumstances, where an offender is assessed as presenting a high risk of serious harm at the end of their recall period, according to the specific criteria outlined in the legislation.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners have been released earlier than originally scheduled as a result of capacity pressures since 2024.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

This Government inherited prisons days from collapse. We had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe.

Without the changes this Government made, courts would have had to halt trials and the police cancel arrests, undermining public safety and leading to a disastrous impact on public confidence in the criminal justice system.

We regularly publish data on release from prison, including on forms of early release – for example we publish SDS40 data alongside the quarterly Offender Management statistics: Standard Determinate Sentence (SDS40) release data - GOV.UK.

Whilst measures like the SDS40 change provided the intended medium-term relief to the system, this was only ever a temporary change as a bridge to a more sustainable solution. That is why the Sentencing Act has now been passed, to ensure we never run out of prison space again and to deliver a more sustainable solution to the prison capacity crisis.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the long-term adequacy of using early release measures to manage prison capacity.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

This Government inherited prisons days from collapse. We had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe.

Without the changes this Government made, courts would have had to halt trials and the police cancel arrests, undermining public safety and leading to a disastrous impact on public confidence in the criminal justice system.

We regularly publish data on release from prison, including on forms of early release – for example we publish SDS40 data alongside the quarterly Offender Management statistics: Standard Determinate Sentence (SDS40) release data - GOV.UK.

Whilst measures like the SDS40 change provided the intended medium-term relief to the system, this was only ever a temporary change as a bridge to a more sustainable solution. That is why the Sentencing Act has now been passed, to ensure we never run out of prison space again and to deliver a more sustainable solution to the prison capacity crisis.

Found: Section 17 is amended by the Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), Schedule 24, paragraph 443(1), the 2023 Act

Found: By Section 60 of the Sentencing Act, the court’s duty in all cases includes imposing upon the defendant

Found: By section 60 of the Sentencing Act 2020 the Court’s duty in all cases includes imposing upon the defendant

Found: command. 2 | P a g e Intentional strangulation is an offence to which Schedule 18 in the Sentencing Act

Found: By section 60 of the Sentencing Act 2020 the Court’s duty in all cases includes imposing upon the defendant

Found: By section 60 of the Sentencing Act the Court’s duty in all cases includes imposing upon the defendant

Found: This is an offence which is covered by schedule 18 of the Sentencing Act.

Found: By section 60 of the Sentencing Act 2020 the Court’s duty in all cases includes imposing upon the defendant

Found: by offenders to persons affected by their offences. 3 | P a g e By Section 60 of the Sentencing Act

Found: By section 60 of the Sentencing Act 2020 the Court’s duty in all cases includes imposing upon the defendant

Found: Parenting Order, the Court will specify a responsible officer in line with section 372(5) of the Sentencing Act

Found: • Children subject to a Detention and Training Orders, Section 233 Sentencing Act 2020 • children

Found: 12 months (or, in relation to offences committed before paragraph 24(2) of Schedule 22 to the Sentencing Act

Found: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or other prosecution agency confirming pseudonym is for a SOCPA/Sentencing Act

Found: **Key Updates and Changes (reflecting the Sentencing Act 2026):** 1.

Found: relation to Community Sentence Treatment Requirements, courts derive their authority from the Sentencing Act

Found: updates 31/03/2026 - updated to reflect the following legislative changes introduced by the Sentencing Act

Found: Person Stalking and Harassment 8L Harassment Breach of a restraining order issued on conviction Sentencing Act

Found: nationals with no right to be in the UK. 395 2026-03-22 00:00:00 Y Y Section 45 of the Sentencing Act

Found: 2020 PH97505 Application to discharge restraining order on acquittal as amended by the Sentencing Act

Found: Attempt to breach a restraining order after conviction SE20 Sentencing Act 2020 SE20005 Breach sexual

Found: offender been a minor subject to life licence under s90-92 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: • under section 11 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 • under section 27(1) of

Found: Relevant Legislation Interaction with Hate Crime Legislation (Crime and Disorder Act 1998) and Sentencing Act

Found: offenders who are defined as third time burglars by section 111 of the Power of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: Discretionary life sentences include: • Life sentence for serious offences in Schedule 19 to the Sentencing Act

Found: Minimum custodial sentences The Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 introduced minimum

Found: The Counter Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 amended the OMA 2007 to permit polygraph testing 130

Found: The Counter Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 amended the OMA 2007 to permit polygraph testing with

Found: The Counter Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 amended the OMA 2007 to permit polygraph testing with

Found: sentencing framework has remained largely unchanged for many years, and was largely unaffected by the Sentencing Act

Found: simplify the release process to reduce the scope for errors through the implementation of the Sentencing Act

Found: simplify the release process to reduce the scope for errors through the implementation of the Sentencing Act

Found: The recently introduced Sentencing Act and the recommendations of the Independent Sentencing Review

Found: This covers the implementation of the Sentencing Act measures. 3.

Found: This covers the implementation of the Sentencing Act measures. 3.

Found: Capacity is being increased at record rates, and the Sentencing Act will place the prison population

Found: Hall and Streatham in November 2019 and February 2020 respectively, the Counter Terrorism and Sentencing Act

Found: Under the current provisions of POCA 2002 and the Sentencing Act 2020, confiscation orders can be uplifted

Found: Youth Justice and International, Jake Richards, said: This new measure, part of the historic Sentencing Act

Found: following the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts and through the implementation of the Sentencing Act

Found: following the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts and through the implementation of the Sentencing Act

Found: (G1) In relation to an offence committed before paragraph 24(2) of Schedule 22 to the Sentencing Act

Found: Book has also been updated to include the following statutory amendments: Section 45 of the Sentencing Act

Found: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or other prosecution agency confirming pseudonym is for a SOCPA/Sentencing Act

Found: relation to Community Sentence Treatment Requirements, courts derive their authority from the Sentencing Act

Found: updates 31/03/2026 - updated to reflect the following legislative changes introduced by the Sentencing Act

Found: Sentencing of offences under section 250, 252A or 259 of the Sentencing Act 2020 can be anywhere up

Found: • under section 11 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 • under section 27(1) of

Found: The Sentencing Act 2020 that governs compensation orders applies only to convictions since December

Found: Pleasure 5) Custody for life 6) Imprisonment for Public Protection Offences **Schedule 18 of the Sentencing Act

Found: pre-sentence report. 5.2.3 A judge must order a pre-sentence report where obliged to do under s.30 Sentencing Act

Found: FD queried the impact of upcoming Sentencing Act changes on legal aid application assessments, particularly

Found: Sentences have been available for the most serious offences since the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act

Found: The court also made a Compensation Order under the Sentencing Act 2020 and ordered that all sums paid

Found: The recently introduced Sentencing Act and the recommendations of the Independent Sentencing Review

Found: served a custodial sentence within the meaning of section 76 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: serving a custodial sentence within the meaning of section 76 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: serving a custodial sentence within the meaning of section 76 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: serving a custodial sentence within the meaning of section 76 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: serving a custodial sentence within the meaning of section 76 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: the “applicable limit” set out in section 224(1A) (b) of the Sentencing Code, contained in the Sentencing Act

Found: and Security Act 2015 • Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 • Sentencing Act

Found: The Welsh Government raised concerns about the Sentencing Act and its potential impact on victims, particularly

Found: reserved for only the most serious wrongdoing. 11.2 The Sentencing Code in P arts 2 to 13 of the Sentencing Act

Found: Do not include children detained under Sections 90 to 92 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: the time being speci fied by order under section 107(1)(e) of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act

Found: the time being speci fied by order under section 107(1)(e) of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act