Can they still get out early on a tag?
The tag (HDC) ended for adults on 2 September 2026. A few people already in the process still go out on it. Answer the questions to see whether that is your loved one, and what applies instead.
These rules cover England and Wales. In Scotland or Northern Ireland? Start here.
How the tag worked
For anyone still going out on it, nothing below has changed. The tag is early release, not a shorter sentence. The person lives at an agreed address with a tag on their ankle. They must be home during curfew hours, normally 7pm to 7am. Outside those hours they can work, see people and live fairly normally. Miss the curfew or lose the address and they go back inside.
- They must serve at least 4 weeks first, and at least half of the prison part.
- The prison runs the process. It should start about 10 weeks before the tag date.
- If nothing seems to be happening, the person inside should ask their offender supervisor. Families can ring the prison and ask too. A polite nudge genuinely helps.
- The full official rules are in the Home Detention Curfew policy framework on GOV.UK.
Common questions
Has the tag (HDC) been scrapped?
For adults, yes. From 2 September 2026 HDC is no longer routinely available to adults in England and Wales. The only adults still going out on it are those whose HDC referral was processed before 25 June 2026 and whose eligibility date was before 2 September 2026. It has been replaced by the new one third release rules under the Sentencing Act 2026, which start on 1 October 2026 for the shortest sentences. HDC still exists for some youth sentences.
What was the tag (HDC)?
HDC stands for Home Detention Curfew. It let some prisoners out up to 180 days before their release date. They wear an ankle tag and must stay at an agreed address during set hours, usually 7pm to 7am. If they break the curfew they go back to prison. The rest of this page describes those rules, which still apply to anyone already approved.
Who cannot get the tag?
People serving 4 years or more. Registered sex offenders. People in prison for terrorism or certain violent offences. People serving a recall. Some others are "presumed unsuitable", like people with domestic abuse offences or anyone who broke a tag before. They only get it in rare cases.
How early can someone get out on the tag?
Up to 180 days early. But they must serve at least 4 weeks in prison first, and at least half of the prison part of the sentence. So shorter sentences mean shorter tag periods.
What can family do to help them get the tag?
The biggest thing is the address. They need a stable address where the person who lives there agrees to it. Probation will check it. Sort this early. If housing is a problem, the person inside can ask about CAS-2, which is help with accommodation. The process should start about 10 weeks before their tag date, and it often needs a nudge. They can ask their offender supervisor about their "HDC eligibility date".
- Prison Reform Trust: Home Detention Curfew: the end of adult HDC from 2 September 2026, explained
- Prisoners' Advice Service: HDC self-help toolkit: for anyone still in the process who thinks the decision is wrong