{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/crime-sentences-act-1997/section-32ZAC",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/crime-sentences-act-1997/section-32ZAC.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1997/43",
  "legislation_title": "Crime (Sentences) Act 1997",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/crime-sentences-act-1997",
  "path": "section/32ZAC",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "32ZAC",
  "heading": "Powers of the High Court",
  "text": "(1) On a referral of a prisoner’s case under section 32ZAA, and unless subsection (2B) applies on the referral, the High Court—\n(a) must, if satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the prisoner should be confined, make an order requiring the Secretary of State to give effect to the Parole Board’s direction to release the prisoner on licence;\n(b) otherwise, must make an order quashing the Parole Board’s direction to release the prisoner on licence.\n(2) An order under subsection (1)(a) may include directions as to the conditions to be included in the prisoner’s licence on release.\n(2A) Subsection (2B) applies on a referral of a prisoner’s case under section 32ZAA if, by virtue of section 31A(4F)(a), the Parole Board has directed the Secretary of State to release the prisoner unconditionally.\n(2B) The High Court—\n(a) must, if satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the prisoner should be confined, make an order requiring the Secretary of State to give effect to the Parole Board’s direction to release the prisoner unconditionally;\n(b) otherwise, must make an order quashing the Parole Board’s direction to release the prisoner unconditionally.\n(3) An order under subsection (1)(b) or (2B)(b) has effect as if the prisoner’s case were disposed of by the Parole Board on the date on which the order was made.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Ss. 32ZAA-32ZAC and cross-heading inserted (31.12.2025) by Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (c. 21), ss. 61(1), 81(2); S.I. 2025/1325, reg. 2(e)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 32ZAC(1) inserted (22.3.2026) by Sentencing Act 2026 (c. 2), ss. 43(2), 49(4) (with s. 43(8))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "S. 32ZAC(2A)(2B) inserted (22.3.2026) by Sentencing Act 2026 (c. 2), ss. 43(3), 49(4) (with s. 43(8))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 32ZAC(3) inserted (22.3.2026) by Sentencing Act 2026 (c. 2), ss. 43(4), 49(4) (with s. 43(8))"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": null,
      "affecting": "ukpga/2000/43",
      "affecting_title": "Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000"
    },
    {
      "type": "power to amend or apply conferred by 2012 c.10, s. 128(3A) (as inserted)",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2024/21",
      "affecting_title": "Victims and Prisoners Act 2024"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1997/43/section/32ZAC",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:24:59.837778+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}