{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-2003/section-247",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-2003/section-247.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2003/44",
  "legislation_title": "Criminal Justice Act 2003",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-2003",
  "path": "section/247",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "247",
  "heading": "Release on licence of prisoner serving extended sentence under section 227 or 228",
  "text": "(1) This section applies to a prisoner who is serving an extended sentence imposed under section 227 or 228, other than a prisoner to whom section 247A applies.\n(2) As soon as—\n(a) a prisoner to whom this section applies has served the requisite custodial period, . . .\n(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\nit is the duty of the Secretary of State to release him on licence.\n(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(7) In this section—\n“the appropriate custodial term” means the period determined by the court as the appropriate custodial term under section 227 or 228;\n“the requisite custodial period” means—\n(a)in relation to a person serving one sentence, one-half of the appropriate custodial term, 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(8) In its application to a person serving a sentence imposed before 14 July 2008, this section is subject to the modifications set out in paragraph 15 of Schedule 20B (transitional cases).",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 247(1) inserted (26.2.2020) by Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Act 2020 (c. 3), ss. 2(7), 10(4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 247(2)(a) substituted (13.4.2015) by Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (c. 2), ss. 14(3)(a), 95(1) (with s. 14(7)); S.I. 2015/778, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 10"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Word at the end of s. 247(2)(a) repealed (14.7.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 25(2)(a), 149, 153, Sch. 28 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/1586, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 50(2)(c) (subject to Sch. 2 para. 2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "S. 247(2)(b) repealed (14.7.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 25(2)(b), 149, 153, Sch. 28 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/1586, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 50(2)(c) (subject to Sch. 2 para. 2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "S. 247(3) repealed (14.7.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 25(3), 149, 153, Sch. 28 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/1586, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 50(2)(c) (subject to Sch. 2 para. 2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "S. 247(4) repealed (14.7.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 25(3), 149, 153, Sch. 28 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/1586, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 50(2)(c) (subject to Sch. 2 para. 2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "S. 247(5) repealed (14.7.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 25(3), 149, 153, Sch. 28 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/1586, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 50(2)(c) (subject to Sch. 2 para. 2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "S. 247(6) repealed (14.7.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 25(3), 149, 153, Sch. 28 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/1586, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 50(2)(c) (subject to Sch. 2 para. 2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "S. 247(7) substituted (13.4.2015) by Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (c. 2), ss. 14(3)(b), 95(1) (with s. 14(7)); S.I. 2015/778, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 10"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Words in s. 247(7) substituted (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 144(7), 208(5)(p)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "S. 247(8) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 17 para. 3; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(o)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Pt. 12 Ch. 6 modified (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 245(1)(2)(c), 416(1) (with ss. 2, 245(3), 398(1), 406, Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "Pt. 12 Ch. 6 modified (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 244(1)(2)(c), 416(1) (with ss. 2, 244(3), 398(1), 406, Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "Pt. 12 Ch. 6 applied (29.6.2021) by 1984 c. 47, Sch. para. 2(3B) (as inserted by Counter Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 (c. 11), s. 50(2)(r), Sch. 11 para. 2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 247 wholly in force at 4.4.2005, see s. 336(3) and S.I. 2005/950, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 19 (subject to art. 2(2), Sch. 2)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/44/section/247",
    "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."
}