Release on licence

"On licence" redirects here. For establishments allowing alcohol consumption on site, see Alcohol licensing laws of the United Kingdom § On-licence.

Release on licence in England and Wales refers to the conditional release of a prisoner before the completion of their custodial sentence. A person released on licence remains under supervision and must comply with specified conditions; failure to do so can result in recall to custody. ^[1]

Types of licence release

There are several types of release on licence under UK law:

• Release on temporary licence (ROTL): permits a prisoner to leave prison temporarily for specified purposes such as work, family contact, or rehabilitation before their full release date. ^[2]

• Parole: allows certain prisoners to be released early following a decision by the Parole Board, based on risk assessments and evidence of rehabilitation. Breach of parole conditions can lead to recall to prison. ^[3]

• Standard licence: most prisoners serving determinate sentences are automatically released on licence after serving a portion of their term (commonly half). The licence remains active for the remainder of the sentence, and breach of its conditions can result in recall. ^[4]

Licence conditions

Offenders released on licence must adhere to both standard and additional conditions, which may include:

• good behaviour and avoidance of further offences;
• maintaining contact with their probation officer;
• residence at an approved address;
• restrictions on travel, employment, or contact with specified persons; and
• electronic monitoring or curfews when required. ^[5]

Breach and recall

If a person breaches their licence conditions or poses an increased risk, they may be recalled to prison. The recall process may be fixed-term or standard depending on the severity of the breach and the sentence length. ^[6]

See also

• Probation (UK)
• Parole Board for England and Wales
• Prison reform in the United Kingdom