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What’s changing

The government has announced changes to when some prisoners may be released from prison. These changes are sometimes referred to as the Progression Model. This means some people may be released earlier than victims were originally told or expected.

Being told that someone may be released earlier can feel unsettling, upsetting or frightening. You may also have questions about what this means for you, your family or your safety.

Not every prisoner is affected by the changes. Some offences are excluded, and other sentence types may follow different rules. If you are eligible for the Victim Contact Scheme and have opted in, your Victim Liaison Officer should be able to explain what information is available in your case.

The Government are also seeking to directly contact all victims who have been affected by a change of release date, even where they are not eligible for the Victim Contact Scheme, to explain how they can request information about their case.

The government is introducing these changes to help manage prison capacity and overcrowding.

The changes affect when some prisoners move from prison into the community. They do not mean that a prison sentence has ended.

People released under these arrangements will continue serving the rest of their sentence in the community.

They may have to follow rules set by probation, such as restrictions on where they can go, who they can contact, or having to attend appointments.

These rules are called license conditions. If they do not follow these rules, they may be returned to prison.

Not all prisoners are eligible for early release. Some offences, like rape and certain child sexual offences, are excluded. Other sentence types may also have different release arrangements.

Being released from prison does not always mean someone’s sentence has ended.

Many people released from prison will continue serving part of their sentence in the community under licence.

This means they may have to follow conditions set by probation, such as not contacting a victim or attending regular appointments.

If they breach those conditions, they may be sent back to prison.

It's understandable to feel worried if you hear that someone may be released earlier than expected.

If you have concerns about your immediate safety, always call 999. 

You can also speak to your Victim Liaison Officer if you have one, and you are not concerned about your immediate safety. They can explain what information is available and discuss any concerns you may have. 

Or you can contact us at Victim Support by:

  • calling our Offender Release Helpline on 0808 168 9280
  • starting a Live Chat

While we cannot discuss the details of your case, we can help you explore your options and provide emotional and practical support.

About the helpline

Our Offender Release Helpline is here to support you. Find out more on our about page.

Common questions

Find answers to common questions about the prison release changes.