{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-1991/section-33",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-1991/section-33.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1991/53",
  "legislation_title": "Criminal Justice Act 1991",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-1991",
  "path": "section/33",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "33",
  "heading": "Duty to release short-term and long-term prisoners.",
  "text": "(1) As soon as a short-term prisoner has served one-half of his sentence, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State—\n(a) to release him unconditionally if that sentence is for a term of less than twelve months; and\n(b) to release him on licence if that sentence is for a term of twelve months or more.\n(2) As soon as a long-term prisoner has served two-thirds of his sentence, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to release him on licence.\n(3) As soon as a short-term or long-term prisoner who—\n(a) has been released on licence under this Part; and\n(b) has been recalled to prison under section 39(1) or (2) below,\nwould (but for his release) have served three-quarters of his sentence, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to release him on licence.\n(3A) In the case of a prisoner to whom section 44A below applies, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to release him on licence at the end of the extension period (within the meaning of section 85 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000).\n(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(5) In this Part—\n“long-term prisoner” means a person serving a sentence of imprisonment for a term of four years or more;\n“short-term prisoner” means a person serving a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than four years.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 33(3)(a)(b) substituted (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 119, Sch. 8 para. 80(1)(a)(b); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)(y)(2)(y)."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 33(3) substituted (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s 104(1) (with Sch. 9 para. 13); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)(w)."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "S. 33(3A) inserted (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 119, Sch. 8 para. 80(2); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)(y)(2)(y)."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 33(3A) substituted (25.8.2000) by 2000 c. 6, ss. 165, 168(1), Sch. 9 para. 137"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "S. 33(4) repealed (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, ss. 119, 120(2), Sch. 8 para. 80(3), Sch. 10; S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)(aa)(y)(2)(y)(3)(t)."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 33 applied (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, ss. 41, 56(1), Sch. 1 Pt. II paras. 8(2), 9(2), Sch. 5 paras. 9(1)(a), 10(1)(b); S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1).S. 33 modified (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 120(1), Sch. 9 para. 12(3)(9); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)(z)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "S. 33(1)(b) amended (retrospectively) by 1984 c. 47, Sch. para. 2 as modified (retrospectively) by 1997 c. 43, s. 42, Sch. 2 para. 2(1)(2); S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1).S. 33(1)(b) amended (1.10.1997) by 1984 c. 47, Sch. para. 2 as modified (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, s. 42, Sch. 2 para. 3(1)(2); S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1)."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "S. 33(2) amended (retrospectively) by 1984 c. 47, Sch. para. 2 as modified (retrospectively) by 1997 c. 43, s. 42, Sch. 2 para. 2(1)(2); S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1).S. 33(2) amended (1.10.1997) by 1984 c. 47, Sch. para. 2 as modified (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, s. 42, Sch. 2 para. 3(1)(2); S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1)."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C4",
      "text": "S. 33(3) modified (25.8.2000) by 2000 c. 6, ss. 86(1), 186(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Pt. II (ss. 32-51) wholly in force at 1.10.1992 see s. 102(2)(3) and S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/53/section/33",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:36:55.708645+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."
}