Prisoners: Revised Temporary Release Scheme: Community Visits

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A decision made 6 January 2014:

Decision Reference: MD-HA-2014-0004
Decision Summary Title :	Changes to the temporary release scheme		Date of Decision Summary:	23 December 2013
Decision Summary Author:	Executive Officer Home Affairs		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	n/a
Written Report Title :	Changes to the temporary release scheme		Date of Written Report:	16 December 2013
Written Report Author:	Prison Governor		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Subject: Changes to the temporary release scheme relating to community visits.
Decision(s): The Minister decided to introduce a revised temporary release scheme in relation to the period at which prisoners will become eligible to qualify for community visits. The qualifying period will reduce from 18 months before end of sentence to 12 months. However, transitional arrangements will be introduced for those serving sentences of 54 months or more, with liberation dates in 2015, as they would be adversely affected by the change and will, consequently, retain their current qualifying dates for access to Community Visits. In addition, during the last 12 months of sentence, once a prisoner has been granted home leave and work experience, prisoners will be granted two periods of home leave per month instead of one and three community visits per month instead of one.
Reason(s) for Decision: To reduce the risk of illicit items being trafficked into the prison and to reflect best practice in the UK and other jurisdictions which operate a system of parole.
Resource Implications: None.
Action required: The Prison Governor to notify prisoners of the change in policy in relation to temporary release.
Signature:		Position: Minister for Home Affairs
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):