§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long a prisoner in receipt of a licence including a curfew condition under sections 86 and 87 of the Crime and Disorder Bill[Lords], as amended on report in the House of Lords, will spend in custody when sentenced to a sentence of imprisonment of (a) three months, (b) four months and (c) eight months. [38164]
§ Ms QuinThe sliding scale which determines the point at which prisoners may be granted a home detention curfew licence is set out in the Bill.
Prisoners sentenced to three months' imprisonment may be released after 30 days and then be subject to a home detention curfew licence until the half-way point of their sentence; prisoners sentenced to four months' imprisonment may be released after serving one quarter of that term and then be subject to a home detention curfew licence until the half-way point of their sentence; and prisoners sentenced to eight months' imprisonment may be released after serving half the term less 60 days which they will then spend subject to a home detention curfew licence.
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§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Hutton) of 31 March 1998,Official Report, column 465, if he will make a statement on the exceptional circumstances in which a prisoner convicted of an offence to which Part I of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 applies will be given early release from their sentences subject to a home detention curfew. [38187]
§ Ms QuinIn recognition of the particular type of risk posed by such offenders, my right hon. Friend has decided that prisoners who are convicted of an offence to which Part I of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 applies, should not be included on the home detention curfew scheme save where there are exceptional circumstances. Each case will be considered on its merits to determine whether there are exceptional circumstances, in the light of our overall objective of protecting the public.