# The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008, Article 20: Power to release certain prisoners on compassionate grounds


(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.
(2) This Articles applies to—
(a) a fixed-term prisoner; and
(b) a prisoner serving an indeterminate custodial sentence.
(3) The Secretary of State shall, before releasing a prisoner serving—
(a) an indeterminate custodial sentence; or
(b) an extended custodial sentence,
consult the Parole Commissioners unless the circumstances are such as to render such consultation impracticable.
(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.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2008/9780110800875/article/20 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/draft-criminal-justice-northern-ireland-order-2008/article-20
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.