{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-2003/section-243A",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-2003/section-243A.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2003/44",
  "legislation_title": "Criminal Justice Act 2003",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-2003",
  "path": "section/243A",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "243A",
  "heading": "Duty to release certain prisoners serving less than 12 months",
  "text": "(1) This section applies to a fixed-term prisoner if—\n(a) the prisoner is serving a sentence which is for a term of 1 day, or\n(b) the prisoner—\n(i) is serving a sentence which is for a term of less than 12 months,\n(i) is serving a sentence under section 250 of the Sentencing Code which is for a term of more than 1 day but less than 12 months, and\n(ii) is aged under 18 on the last day of the requisite custodial period.\n(1A) This section also applies to a fixed-term prisoner if—\n(a) the prisoner is serving a sentence which is for a term of less than 12 months,\n(a) the prisoner is serving a sentence under section 250 of the Sentencing Code which is for a term of more than 1 day but less than 12 months, and\n(b) the sentence was imposed in respect of an offence committed before the day on which section 1 of the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 came into force.\n(1B) But this section does not apply to a prisoner to whom section 247A applies.\n(2) As soon as a prisoner to whom this section applies has served the requisite custodial period for the purposes of this section, it is the duty of the Secretary of State to release that person unconditionally.\n(2A) Subsection (2) does not apply if—\n(a) the prisoner’s case has been referred to the Board under section 244ZB, or\n(b) a notice given to the prisoner under subsection (4) of that section is in force.\n(3) For the purposes of this section “the requisite custodial period” is—\n(a) in relation to a person serving one sentence, one-half of the sentence,\n(a) in relation to a person serving one sentence imposed under section 250 of the Sentencing Code, one half of the sentence,\n(aa) in relation to a person serving one sentence of any other kind, one-third of the sentence, and\n(b) in relation to a person serving two or more concurrent or consecutive sentences, the period determined under sections 263(2) and 264(2B) or (2E).\n(4) This section is subject to—\n(a) section 256B (supervision of young offenders after release), and\n(b) paragraph 8 of Schedule 20B (transitional cases).",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 243A and cross-heading inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 111(1), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 243A(1)(1A) substituted for s. 243A(1) (1.2.2015) by Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 (c. 11), ss. 1, 22(1) (with Sch. 7 para. 2); S.I. 2015/40, art. 2(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "S. 243A(1)(b)(i) substituted (1.10.2026 except in relation to sentences for excluded offences listed in Sch.) by Sentencing Act 2026 (c. 2), ss. 23(2)(a), 49(1) (with s. 23(12)-(15)); S.I. 2026/953, regs. 2(a), 5, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "S. 243A(1A)(a) substituted (1.10.2026 except in relation to sentences for excluded offences listed in Sch.) by Sentencing Act 2026 (c. 2), ss. 23(2)(b), 49(1) (with s. 23(12)-(15)); S.I. 2026/953, regs. 2(a), 5, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "S. 243A(1B) inserted (26.2.2020) by Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Act 2020 (c. 3), ss. 2(2), 10(4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "S. 243A(2A) inserted (28.4.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 132(2), 208(4)(p)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "S. 243A(3)(a)(aa) substituted for s. 243A(3)(a) (1.10.2026 except in relation to sentences for excluded offences listed in Sch.) by Sentencing Act 2026 (c. 2), ss. 23(2)(c), 49(1) (with s. 23(12)-(15)); S.I. 2026/953, regs. 2(a), 5, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in s. 243A(3)(a) substituted (1.2.2015) by Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 (c. 11), s. 22(1), Sch. 3 para. 17 (with Sch. 7 para. 2); S.I. 2015/40, art. 2(u)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in s. 243A(3) substituted (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 144(3), 208(5)(p)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "S. 243A(4)(b) and word omitted (1.10.2026 except in relation to sentences for excluded offences listed in Sch.) by virtue of Sentencing Act 2026 (c. 2), ss. 23(2)(d), 49(1) (with s. 23(12)-(15)); S.I. 2026/953, regs. 2(a), 5, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Word in s. 243A heading inserted (1.2.2015) by Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 (c. 11), s. 22(1), Sch. 3 para. 16 (with Sch. 7 para. 2); S.I. 2015/40, art. 2(u)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 243A applied by Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 (c. 43), Sch. 1 paras. 8(2)(a), 9(2)(a) (as amended (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 14 para. 2; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(l))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "S. 243A excluded by International Criminal Court Act 2001 (c. 17), Sch. 7 para. 3(1) (as amended (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 14 para. 4; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(l))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "S. 243A modified (10.9.2024 for specified purposes, 22.10.2024 in so far as not already in force) by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Requisite and Minimum Custodial Periods) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/844), arts. 1(2), 3"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/44/section/243A",
    "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."
}