{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-2003/section-237",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-2003/section-237.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2003/44",
  "legislation_title": "Criminal Justice Act 2003",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-2003",
  "path": "section/237",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "237",
  "heading": "Meaning of “fixed-term prisoner” etc",
  "text": "(1) In this Chapter “fixed-term prisoner” means—\n(a) a person serving a sentence of imprisonment for a determinate term, or\n(b) a person serving a determinate sentence of detention under section 91 or 96 of the PCC(S)A 2000, under section 226A, 226B, 227 , 228 or 236A of this Act or under section 250 , 252A, 254, 262, 265, 266 or 268A of the Sentencing Code.\nand “fixed-term sentence” means a sentence falling within paragraph (a) or (b).\n(1B) In this Chapter—\n(a) references to a sentence of imprisonment include such a sentence passed by a service court;\n(aa) references to a sentence of detention under section 262 of the Sentencing Code include a sentence of detention in a young offender institution under section 210B of the Armed Forces Act 2006;\n(b) references to a sentence of detention under section 91 of the PCC(S)A 2000 or section 250 of the Sentencing Code include a sentence of detention under section 209 of the Armed Forces Act 2006;\n(ba) references to a sentence under section 226A of this Act or section 266 or 279 of the Sentencing Code include a sentence under that section passed as a result of section 219A of the Armed Forces Act 2006;\n(bb) references to a sentence under section 226B of this Act or section 254 of the Sentencing Code include a sentence under that section passed as a result of section 221A of the Armed Forces Act 2006;\n(c) references to a sentence under section 227 of this Act include a sentence under that section passed as a result of section 220 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 or section 240A; ...\n(d) references to a sentence under section 228 of this Act include a sentence under that section passed as a result of section 222 of that Act, and\n(e) references to a sentence under section 236A of this Act or section 265 or 278 of the Sentencing Code include a sentence under that section passed as a result of section 224A of that Act.\n(1C) Nothing in subsection (1B) has the effect that section 240ZA or 265 of this Act or section 225 of the Sentencing Code (provision equivalent to which is made by the Armed Forces Act 2006) or section 240A applies to a service court.\n(2) In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, “prisoner” includes a person serving a sentence falling within subsection (1)(b); and “prison” includes any place where a person serving such a sentence is liable to be detained.\n(3) In this Chapter, references to a sentence of detention under section 96 of the PCC(S)A 2000, under section 226A, 227 or 236A of this Act or under section 262, 265 , 266 or 268A of the Sentencing Code are references to a sentence of detention in a young offender institution.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(1)(b) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 117(2)(a), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(1)(b) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 218(2)(a) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(1)(b) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 20 para. 2(2); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(r)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(1)(b) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 117(2)(b), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(1)(b) substituted (13.4.2015) by Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (c. 2), s. 95(1), Sch. 1 para. 15(2); S.I. 2015/778, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 72"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(1)(b) inserted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 218(2)(b) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Word in s. 237(1)(b) inserted (30.4.2021) by Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 (c. 11), s. 50(1)(i), Sch. 13 para. 21(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(1)(b) substituted (29.6.2021) by Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 (c. 11), s. 50(2)(v), Sch. 13 para. 9(2)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(1) inserted (1.2.2015) by Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 (c. 11), ss. 2(3), 22(1) (with Sch. 7 para. 2); S.I. 2015/40, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "S. 237(1B)(1C) inserted (28.3.2009 for certain purposes and otherwise 31.10.2009) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 378(1), 383, Sch. 16 para. 219; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3 (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "S. 237(1B)(aa) inserted (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), s. 208(5)(aa), Sch. 21 para. 12"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(1B)(b) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 218(3)(a) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F13",
      "text": "S. 237(1B)(ba)(bb) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 22 para. 21; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(t)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F14",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(1B)(ba) inserted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 218(3)(b) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F15",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(1B)(bb) inserted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 218(3)(c) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F16",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(1B) inserted (31.10.2009) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 21(2), 153; S.I. 2009/2606, art. 3(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F17",
      "text": "Word in s. 237(1B)(c) omitted (13.4.2015) by virtue of Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (c. 2), s. 95(1), Sch. 1 para. 15(3)(a); S.I. 2015/778, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 72"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F18",
      "text": "S. 237(1B)(e) and word inserted (13.4.2015) by Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (c. 2), s. 95(1), Sch. 1 para. 15(3)(b); S.I. 2015/778, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 72"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F19",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(1B)(e) inserted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 218(3)(d) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F20",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(1C) substituted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 110(2)(a), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F21",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(1C) inserted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 218(4) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F22",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(1C) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 110(2)(b), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F23",
      "text": "S. 237(3) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 117(3), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F24",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(3) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 218(5)(a) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F25",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(3) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 20 para. 2(3); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(r)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F26",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(3) substituted (13.4.2015) by Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (c. 2), s. 95(1), Sch. 1 para. 15(4); S.I. 2015/778, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 72"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F27",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(3) inserted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 218(5)(b) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F28",
      "text": "Words in s. 237(3) substituted (29.6.2021) by Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 (c. 11), s. 50(2)(v), Sch. 13 para. 9(2)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F29",
      "text": "Word in s. 237 heading inserted (28.3.2009 for certain purposes and otherwise 31.10.2009) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 378(1), 383, Sch. 16 para. 219; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3 (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 237(1B) modified (24.4.2009 for certain purposes, otherwise 31.10.2009) by The Armed Forces Act 2006 (Transitional Provisions etc) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1059), arts. 1(3), 205, Sch. 1 para. 53(8)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 237 wholly in force at 4.4.2005; s. 237 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 336(3); s. 237 in force for certain purposes at 26.1.2004 by S.I. 2003/3282, art. 2, Sch.; s. 237 in force in so far as not already in force at 4.4.2005 by S.I. 2005/950, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 19 (subject to art. 2(2), Sch. 2)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "word omitted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2021/11",
      "affecting_title": "Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021"
    },
    {
      "type": "inserted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2021/11",
      "affecting_title": "Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021"
    },
    {
      "type": "inserted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2006/48",
      "affecting_title": "Police and Justice Act 2006"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/44/section/237",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:17:40.404644+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."
}