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Home Office

Answer

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long is spent in custody by (a) an offender serving a sentence of 10 weeks imprisonment and (b) an offender serving a sentence of three months imprisonment who is suitable for release on home detention curfew. [67312] Mr. George Howarth: A prisoner who is serving a sentence of ten weeks imprisonment would normally be entitled to automatic release once he had served half of that period. The period in custody may last, however, up to the full ten weeks if the prisoner is subject to additional days imposed by the prison governor for disciplinary offences. An offender serving a sentence of three months imprisonment would normally be entitled to automatic release after serving half that period. If he were allowed home detention curfew, he could expect to spend 30 days in custody, and then serve the period until the halfway point of sentence on a curfew enforced by electronic monitoring. Home detention curfew is not an entitlement, and only those prisoners who pass a risk assessment will be allowed on the scheme. The period in custody may last up to the full three months in custody if the prisoner is subject to additional days imposed by the prison governor for disciplinary offences.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

67312; 324 c78W

Session

1998-99

Subjects

Curfews Alternatives to prison Electronic tagging Prisoners' release Sentencing