The Government is introducing changes to prison release arrangements for some offenders through the Sentencing Act 2026.
We know recent news about sentencing changes may be worrying, particularly if you are waiting to understand what they mean for your case.
If you are affected, attempts will be made to contact you directly when there is confirmed information to share.
You do not need to take any action in the meantime. Support is available if you need it while you wait.
Why are prison release arrangements changing?
The Government is introducing changes to prison release arrangements to help ensure there is enough space in prisons, while making sure there is tough supervision of offenders when they are released to keep victims and the wider public safe.
The Sentencing Act 2026 makes changes to the amount of time some offenders spend in prison before being released to serve the rest of their sentence on licence.
What is the new model?
The Progression Model applies where prisoners are serving a particular type of sentence called a Standard Determinate Sentence. This is a fixed-term prison sentence with a definite end date, split between time served in custody and time supervised in the community on licence.
An offender’s sentence will have three stages:
- Prison
- Intensive supervision in the community
- Final period on licence in the community
The Progression Model changes the amount of time offenders will spend in prison (stage 1) before entering intensive supervision in the community (stage 2).
In stage 2: the offender is supervised by the Probation Service in the community. This will include regular appointments, risk assessments, and monitoring of licence conditions.
In stage 3: all offenders will remain on licence, and can be recalled to custody if they cannot be safely managed in the community. Some offenders, including rape, certain child sexual offenders, and all offenders managed under Multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) will continue to be supervised by probation.
Will every offender’s release date change?
The changes do not apply to more than 18,000 offenders. For a list of offences that this model does not apply to visit sentencing act offence exclusions.
Whilst these offences are excluded, the release date for an offender might still change if they are serving sentences for other offences. For example, if someone is serving 5 years for rape and 5 years for assault consecutively, whilst their release date for rape will not change, they might be released earlier than planned because the assault sentence will be subject to the Progression Model.
The changes also do not apply to offenders serving more serious sentences including:
- Life sentences
- Extended Determinate Sentences
- Sentences for Offenders of Particular Concern
- Other indeterminate sentences, including Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences
Further information on different types of sentences can be found on the sentencing council’s website.
What safeguards will be in place?
All offenders released through the Progression Model will be subject to strict licence conditions and a period of intensive supervision. These are rules they must follow, otherwise they may be ‘recalled’ and taken back to prison.
Probation practitioners have discretion to apply appropriate licence conditions where necessary and proportionate. These can include:
- prohibition on contacting the victim or their family;
- requirement to reside at a particular address so their location can be monitored and managed as part of their supervision;
- requirement to take alcohol tests;
- prohibition from driving, attending public events, or entering pubs, clubs and bars.
- for some serious sexual and violent offenders, additional restrictions may be imposed, including areas they are prohibited from leaving (restriction zones).
Additionally:
- There will also be a presumption that all offenders are electronically tagged on release, unless it is unsuitable or inappropriate to do so. For example, where there is no fixed abode.
- Random drug test will take place for people on licence.
- Additional measures for rape and certain child sexual offenders, including presumption of a 12-month GPS trail monitoring, strengthened community supervision and mandatory consideration of referral to approved premises, probation’s most secure community accommodation.
Victims opted in and eligible for the Victim Contact Scheme are able to make representations about the conditions they think would protect them through their allocated Victim Liaison Officer. This could include an exclusion zone or a non-contact condition.
How will victims receive information about release date changes and licence conditions?
Sentences in scope of the changes will now be recalculated. This can be complex in some cases and will take time, which will mean victims affected may not hear updates for several weeks or more. The Government anticipates that all sentence calculations will be reviewed by the end of September.
They are working to ensure there are routes for affected victims to either receive information proactively, or be made aware that they can request information. Therefore, victims do not need to take action at this stage.
There are two main routes for victims to receive or request information:
The Victim Contact Scheme
Victims of specified serious sexual or violent offences, where an offender receives a prison sentence of 12 months or more, are eligible for the Victim Contact Scheme. Victims who opt into the scheme can receive information about an offender’s release where appropriate, and can also make representations about licence conditions and supervision requirements. Probation will take these representations into account when considering
Victims who have opted into the scheme are assigned a Victim Liaison Officer who will keep them informed about any changes to an offender’s release, and explain what happens next. They will also support the victim to make representations about licence conditions, if they wish to.
Eligible victims can opt-in to the Victim Contact Scheme at any point during an offender’s sentence, even if they opted out in the past by contacting: [email protected]
Victims not eligible for the Victim Contact Scheme:
The Government will be implementing a new process to enable victims who are not eligible for the Victim Contact Scheme to request information about an offender.
They will identify victims affected by these changes and, where contact details are available, contact them to explain how they can request information about their case.
How to access support
Victim Support’s dedicated Offender Release Helpline provides information, emotional and practical support, and help to access other services for people affected by, or worried about, the release of an offender.
The Helpline is there to:
- Listen to victims and survivors’ concerns and offer emotional support
- Discuss wellbeing, safety and possible next steps
- Provide practical guidance and help callers understand what the changes may mean
- Explain how someone may be able to seek further information, the Helpline cannot provide information about individual offenders or case specific release dates.
- Help people access ongoing or specialist support where appropriate
You can contact the Helpline on 0808 168 9280.
Further information about the Helpline and the support available can be found at https://victimsupport.org.uk/offender-release-helpline.
How to get support locally
If you have been affected by these changes or are worried about the release of offenders, there are many local support services available to support you.
Use the directory on this website to find the best support service to help you.
You can also call the Victim Care Merseyside hub team for free, confidential support by calling Freephone 0808 175 3080 on weekdays between 8am and 6pm.