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Rape: Prisoners' Release

Answer

I would like to express my sympathy for all victims of these appalling crimes. This Government inherited a prisons system which was days from collapse. We had no choice but to take decisive action in order to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe. Our landmark Sentencing Act 2026 will now deliver a sustainable solution to the prison capacity crisis we inherited, through measures which include the progression model which will help ensure that there are always enough places for the courts to be able to send people to custody in order to keep the public safe. The worst thing for victims would be to run out of prison space and not be able to lock up dangerous offenders.

The progression model amends release points for offenders on Standard Determinate Sentences.

More than 18,000 offenders serving more serious sentences like Extended Determinate Sentences or life sentences will be unaffected by these reforms and will be kept in prison for the same length of time as they are at present. Once released, offenders will be managed in the community under strict licence conditions. Offenders released on licence can be recalled if they breach their conditions or if they cannot be safely managed in the community.

It is not possible to know future release data precisely so far in advance, including because eligible offenders might be sentenced to additional time in prison between now and implementation, nor can we estimate any added days for bad behaviour which will also determine their release point.

The Ministry of Justice routinely publishes Accredited Official Statistics on prisoner releases as part of the Offender Management Statistics Quarterly (OMSQ) publication.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

HL1549

Session

2026-27

Grouped for answer

Yes

Subjects

Convictions Rape Prisoners' release Prison sentences

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk