Licence Conditions

Prisoners released before the end of their custodial sentence serve the remainder 'on licence', subject to conditions made under section 250 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. The standard conditions that must be included in every such licence are set out in the Criminal Justice (Sentencing) (Licence Conditions) Order 2015. They require an offender to 'be of good behaviour and not behave in a way which undermines the purpose of the licence period', to not commit any offence, and to 'keep in touch with the supervising officer in accordance with instructions given by the supervising officer' and receive visits from that officer as instructed.

The standard conditions also address residence, work and travel. An offender released on licence must 'reside permanently at an address approved by the supervising officer and obtain the prior permission of the supervising officer for any stay of one or more nights at a different address', and must not undertake work, or a particular type of work, unless it is approved by the supervising officer in advance. Foreign travel is likewise restricted: an offender must 'not travel outside the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man except with the prior permission of your supervising officer or for the purposes of immigration deportation or removal'.

Beyond these universal standard conditions, further conditions apply automatically where an offender is subject to electronic monitoring, drug testing or polygraph testing requirements, and the Order also allows for additional, bespoke conditions to be attached to an individual's licence to manage the specific risks that offender presents — for example exclusion zones, restrictions on contact with particular people, or curfew requirements. The Ministry of Justice's Licence Conditions Policy Framework sets out the mandatory requirements and general guidance for prison and probation staff managing this process, including the procedures for varying licence conditions after release.