197.Section 14 inserts a definition of “requisite custodial period” into the interpretation provision in Chapter 6 of Part 12 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. “Requisite custodial period” has different meanings for different sentences. For the purposes of a standard determinate sentence (covered by section 243A and 244), the ‘requisite custodial period’ ends at the half-way point; for the purposes of an extended determinate sentence (imposed under section 226A or 226B) it ends at the two-thirds point of the custodial term, or the half-way point of the custodial term for extended sentences imposed under the previous regime (under section 227 or 228) (see sections 246A and 247); for the purposes of the new sentencing arrangements under new section 236A (inserted by Schedule 1 to this Act), it ends at the half-way point of the custodial term (see new section 244A). The definition of ‘requisite custodial period’ is relevant for the purposes of sections; 246 (power to release prisoners on licence before required to do so), 256A (as amended by section 9 of this Act) (further review), 260 (early removal of prisoners liable to removal from the United Kingdom) 261 (re-entry into United Kingdom of offender removed from prison early), paragraph 8 of Schedule 20A (modification of section 260) and section 28 of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 (as amended by section 11 of this Act) (initial release and release after recall: life sentences).
198.Subsection (3) makes amendments to section 247 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 to introduce a definition of the ‘requisite custodial period’ in respect of an offender serving one sentence or two or more concurrent or consecutive sentences. The requisite custodial period for this type of extended sentence is one half of the custodial term imposed by the court where one sentence is being served and, for those serving multiple sentences, it is the period determined by sections 263(2) and 264(2) which deal with calculating relevant dates for concurrent and consecutive sentences.