{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/draft-criminal-justice-northern-ireland-order-2008/article-20",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/draft-criminal-justice-northern-ireland-order-2008/article-20.json",
  "legislation": "ukdsi/2008/9780110800875",
  "legislation_title": "The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/draft-criminal-justice-northern-ireland-order-2008",
  "path": "article/20",
  "kind": "article",
  "number": "20",
  "heading": "Power to release certain prisoners on compassionate grounds",
  "text": "(1) The Secretary of State may, if satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist which justify the release of a prisoner to whom this Article applies on compassionate grounds, at any time release the prisoner on licence under this Article.\n(2) This Articles applies to—\n(a) a fixed-term prisoner; and\n(b) a prisoner serving an indeterminate custodial sentence.\n(3) The Secretary of State shall, before releasing a prisoner serving—\n(a) an indeterminate custodial sentence; or\n(b) an extended custodial sentence,\nconsult the Parole Commissioners unless the circumstances are such as to render such consultation impracticable.\n(4) In this Article “fixed-term prisoner” includes a person serving a determinate custodial sentence for an offence committed before the commencement of this Article.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2008/9780110800875/article/20",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-30T15:17:20.064737+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."
}