Minimum Term
In a life sentence for murder, the minimum period the offender must serve in prison before becoming eligible to apply to the Parole Board for release.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Where a court passes a life sentence, it must make either a minimum term order or, in the most serious cases, a whole life order. Under section 321 of the Sentencing Act 2020, a minimum term order specifies the part of the sentence the offender must serve before the early release provisions can apply to them — this is commonly called the 'tariff' or minimum term.
A whole life order means the early release provisions never apply, so the offender is never eligible for release by the Parole Board. The court can only make a whole life order where the seriousness of the offence, or combination of offences, is so great that a minimum term order should not be made — for offenders aged 21 or over, or in narrower circumstances for those aged 18-21.
Related terms
Official sources
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