{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-1991/section-36",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-1991/section-36.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1991/53",
  "legislation_title": "Criminal Justice Act 1991",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-1991",
  "path": "section/36",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "36",
  "heading": "Power to release prisoners on compassionate grounds.",
  "text": "(1) The Secretary of State may at any time release a short-term or long-term prisoner on licence if he is satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist which justify the prisoner’s release on compassionate grounds.\n(2) Before releasing a long-term . . . prisoner under subsection (1) above, the Secretary of State shall consult the Board, unless the circumstances are such as to render such consultation impracticable.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 36(1) so far as relating to life prisoners, and words in s. 36(2) repealed (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, ss. 56(2), 57(2), Sch. 6 (subject to transitional provisions and savings in s. 56(1), Sch. 5 para. 1); S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1)(p)(3)(c) (subject to transitional provisions and savings in art. 5)."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 36(1) substituted (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 119, Sch. 8 para.82; S.I. 1998/2327, art.2(1)(y)(2)(y)."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Ss. 34-37 applied (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, ss. 41, 56(1), Sch. 1 Pt. II paras. 8, 9(2)(a), Sch. 5 paras. 9(2)(a), 10(2)(a); S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1).S. 36 applied (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, ss. 44, 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)."
    },
    {
      "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/36",
    "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."
}