{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/prisoners-and-criminal-proceedings-scotland-act-1993/section-3",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/prisoners-and-criminal-proceedings-scotland-act-1993/section-3.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1993/9",
  "legislation_title": "Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/prisoners-and-criminal-proceedings-scotland-act-1993",
  "path": "section/3",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "3",
  "heading": "Power to release prisoners on compassionate grounds.",
  "text": "(1) The Secretary of State may at any time, if satisfied that there are compassionate grounds justifying the release of a person serving a sentence of imprisonment, release him on licence.\n(2) Before so releasing any long-term prisoner or any life prisoner, the Secretary of State shall consult the Parole Board unless the circumstances are such as to render consultation impracticable.\n(3) The release of a person under subsection (1) above shall not constitute release for the purpose of a supervised release order.",
  "extent": "S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 3 excluded (17.12.2001) by 2001 asp 13, s. 24(c) (with s. 29); S.S.I. 2001/456, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "Ss. 1-3, 5, 6(1)(a)(b)(i)(iii), 9, 11-13, 15-21, 27, Schs. 2 & 6 extended (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, 56(1), Sch. 1 paras. 10(2)(5), 11(2)(4), Sch. 5 paras. 11(1)(3), 12(1); S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1)(n) (subject to art. 5 of the said S.I.) (which amendment fell (30.9.1998) by reason of the repeal of Sch. 5 paras. 11(1), 12(1) by 1998 c. 37, s. 120(2), Sch. 10; S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)(aa)(3)(x) (subject to arts. 5-8 of the said S.I.)Ss. 1(4), 2, 2(4), 3, 11-13, 15, 17, 18, 19 extended (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, ss. 41, 56(1), Sch. 1 Pt. II paras. 10(2)(a)(5)(a)(6)(7), 11(2)(a)(4)(a)(6); S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1)(g) (subject to art. 5) (which amending provisions were amended (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 119, Sch. 8 paras. 135(a)(i)(d)(6)(a)(i)(b); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)(y)(2)(oo) (subject to arts. 5-8))S. 3 applied (with modifications) (1.10.1997) by S.I. 1997/1776, arts. 1, 2, Sch. 1 paras. 5, 6, 7 (with transitional provisions in art. 3, Sch. 2); S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1)(g)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1993/9/section/3",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:35:16.864603+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."
}