When do the release changes apply?
The new release points do not reach everyone on the same day. People already in custody move across in monthly stages, shortest sentences first. Enter a sentence length to see which stage it falls in.
The start date is now set in law: 1 October 2026
The progression model was originally due to start on 2 September 2026. It was paused, and the The Sentencing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 6 and Revocation) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/953), made on 1 September 2026, set the start at 1 October 2026 and revoked the earlier regulations. The same instrument puts the excluded offences into law: those release points do not move.
The stages below are the confirmed dates on which the change reaches people already in custody, shortest sentences first.
Which offences are excluded?Sentence length
Use the total sentence shown on the paperwork. Where sentences run concurrently, the regulations use the longest of them. All inputs stay in your browser — nothing is sent to a server.
A sentence of roughly days falls in the stage.
That is the date the new release point applies from, under regulation 3 of SI 2026/953. It is not a release date, and it does not apply at all if the offence is excluded.
Enter a sentence length to see which stage it falls in.
The staged schedule
Regulation 3 of The Sentencing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 6 and Revocation) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/953).
Starts the new release points on 1 October 2026 and puts the offence exclusions into law.
| Sentence length | Days | Applies from |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1y 7m | under 575 | 1 October 2026 |
| 1y 7m – 2y 5m | 575 – 882 | 13 October 2026 |
| 2y 5m – 3y 2m | 883 – 1,162 | 10 November 2026 |
| 3y 2m – 4y 3m | 1,163 – 1,561 | 8 December 2026 |
| 4y 3m – 5y 9m | 1,562 – 2,121 | 12 January 2027 |
| 5y 9m – 7y 7m | 2,122 – 2,758 | 9 February 2027 |
| 7y 7m – 9y | 2,759 – 3,283 | 9 March 2027 |
| 9y – 10y | 3,284 – 3,654 | 13 April 2027 |
| 10y – 12y | 3,655 – 4,396 | 11 May 2027 |
| 12y or more | over 4,396 | 8 June 2027 |
Two things the stages do not cover
- Sentenced on or after 1 October 2026? The new release point applies straight away. The staged schedule only governs when the change reaches people already serving a sentence.
- Already out on a curfew licence? Someone released on licence with a curfew condition under section 253 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 before 1 October 2026 is not reached until 12 October 2027, whatever their sentence length (SI 2026/953, regulation 4).
- Under 18 at sentence? Youth detention under section 250 of the Sentencing Code and section 91 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 is left out of the change entirely (SI 2026/953, regulation 6). Those release points stay where they are.
If you were given a date under the old schedule SI 2026/609 was revoked before it took effect. Only the first stage changed — every later stage kept its date.
The revoked schedule
Regulation 3 of The Sentencing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 4) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/609).
Revoked on 1 September 2026. It never took effect.
| Sentence length | Days | Applies from |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1y 7m | under 575 | 2 September 2026 |
| 1y 7m – 2y 5m | 575 – 882 | 13 October 2026 |
| 2y 5m – 3y 2m | 883 – 1,162 | 10 November 2026 |
| 3y 2m – 4y 3m | 1,163 – 1,561 | 8 December 2026 |
| 4y 3m – 5y 9m | 1,562 – 2,121 | 12 January 2027 |
| 5y 9m – 7y 7m | 2,122 – 2,758 | 9 February 2027 |
| 7y 7m – 9y | 2,759 – 3,283 | 9 March 2027 |
| 9y – 10y | 3,284 – 3,654 | 13 April 2027 |
| 10y – 12y | 3,655 – 4,396 | 11 May 2027 |
| 12y or more | over 4,396 | 8 June 2027 |