Causing or Allowing Death of Child or Vulnerable Adult

Section 250

Legislation

Statute

Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004

Section

Section 5

Life Sentence Eligible

Yes

View on legislation.gov.uk

violent Schedule15 Part1 Section250 ProgressionExcluded

Classified as a violent offence

Listed in Schedule 15 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003

Part 1 of Schedule 15: Specified violent offences

Eligible for Section 250 youth detention (offenders under 18) - release at 50%

ProgressionExcluded

How this offence affects release dates under the Sentencing Act 2026

This offence does not trigger section 244ZA(7), so standard release rules apply:

Release point now: 40% (two-fifths), or one-half (½) where the sentence is 4 years or more — Schedule 15 Part 1 offences of that length were excluded from the 40% release point
From 1 October 2026: Unchanged. This offence is in the Schedule to SI 2026/953, so it is excluded from the progression model — the release point stays exactly where it is. It does not get longer
Note: The applicable regime depends on sentence date, and people already in custody move across in stages by sentence length

Special release rules for offenders sentenced when under 18

When this offence is committed by someone under 18 years old, Section 250 of the Sentencing Act 2020 governs their release:

Release point: Halfway (50%) of the custodial term
Not affected by SA 2026: Youth sentences are NOT subject to the one-third release changes. Section 23(10) was not commenced for them (SI 2026/953, regulation 6)
Applies to: Detention in a Young Offender Institution or Secure Training Centre

Learn More About Youth Sentencing