{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sentencing-act-2020/section-324",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sentencing-act-2020/section-324.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2020/17",
  "legislation_title": "Sentencing Act 2020",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sentencing-act-2020",
  "path": "section/324",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "324",
  "heading": "Life sentences: interpretation",
  "text": "In this Chapter—\n“the early release provisions” means section 28(5) to (8) of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997;\n“life sentence” means—\n(a)a sentence of imprisonment for life,\n(b)a sentence of detention for life or during Her Majesty's pleasure (see sections 250 and 259), or\n(c)a sentence of custody for life (see sections 272 and 275);\n“minimum term order” and “minimum term” have the meanings given by section 321(4);\n“whole life order” has the meaning given by section 321(5).",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Ss. 321-324 modified by 2006 c. 52, s. 261A (as inserted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 25 para. 60 (with s. 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2) (as amended (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 129(2), 208(1); S.I. 2022/520, reg. 5(l))"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 324 in force at 1.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "word inserted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2020/17",
      "affecting_title": "Sentencing Act 2020"
    },
    {
      "type": "words omitted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2020/17",
      "affecting_title": "Sentencing Act 2020"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/17/section/324",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:00:57.370248+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."
}