When will they get out of prison?
Put in the sentence and we will work out the likely release date, using the right rules for England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland. Free, quick, and no sign-up.
How release dates work in England and Wales
A fixed sentence has two parts. Part one is in prison. Part two is at home, Licence means the rules someone must follow after early release. Things like meeting their probation officer and living at an agreed address. Breaking the rules can mean going back to prison. . Where the line falls depends on the offence:
| Sentence | Gets out at | From Autumn 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Normal fixed sentence (most people) | 40% | One third |
| Sexual, violent or domestic abuse offences that are excluded from the 40% rule | Half | One third (exact rules still being confirmed) |
| Most serious sexual or violent offences | Two thirds | Half |
| Extended sentence (EDS) | Parole Board decides, from two thirds of the prison part | No change |
| Life or IPP | Parole Board decides | No change |
How release works in Scotland
Scotland has its own law, and it changed on 12 May 2026. Most people serving under 4 years are now released at 30% of the sentence, including people already serving. Sentences for domestic abuse or sexual offences are excluded and stay at half. People serving 4 years or more can be freed by the Parole Board for Scotland from the half way point, and if parole never comes they are released on licence 6 months before the end. Scotland also runs its own home detention curfew scheme: ask the prison, or see the Scottish Prison Service family pages.
How release works in Northern Ireland
Most fixed sentences in Northern Ireland split in half: the first half in prison, the second on licence. Extended and indeterminate sentences go to the Parole Commissioners. The rules are in the official nidirect guide to custodial sentences.
Recalled: what happens now?
If someone got out and was sent back for breaking their licence rules in England or Wales, pick "They got out, then got recalled" in the tool above. Since 31 March 2026, most people on normal sentences serve a fixed 56 days after recall, then get out again. It is different for serious cases, and in Scotland and Northern Ireland where the parole bodies decide. Recall explained.
What can change the date
- Two or more sentences. If the judge said the sentences run one after another, add them together and put in the total.
- Extra days. Breaking prison rules can add days.
- Getting out on a tag. In England and Wales, sentences under 4 years might mean leaving up to 180 days early. Check the tag tool.
- Deportation. Foreign nationals facing removal can be sent back earlier.
The prison works out the official date. The person inside can ask the The OMU is the Offender Management Unit. It is the prison office that handles release dates, tags, parole papers and moving to open prison. for their sentence calculation sheet. If a date matters for housing or work, check it with the prison.
Common questions
How much of a prison sentence do you actually serve?
It depends where they were sentenced. In England and Wales, most normal fixed sentences mean release at 40% right now, expected to become one third from Autumn 2026. In Scotland, most sentences under 4 years mean release at 30%, and long sentences need the Parole Board from half way. In Northern Ireland, release is normally at half. Serious sexual, violent and domestic abuse offences serve more everywhere.
Are the rules different in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
Yes, completely. Each nation has its own release laws, its own parole system and its own early release schemes. This calculator asks where they were sentenced and uses the right rules. Our other tools mostly cover England and Wales, and say so.
Is the 40% early release still happening in England and Wales?
Yes. In July 2026 the 40% rule still applies to most normal fixed sentences. A new law, the Sentencing Act 2026, will replace it with release at one third. The government says that starts in Autumn 2026. It has not started yet.
What is the Scottish 30% rule?
From 12 May 2026, most people serving under 4 years in Scotland are released after 30% of the sentence. It applies to people already serving too. It does not apply to sentences for domestic abuse or sexual offences, which stay at half. People serving 4 years or more need the Parole Board for Scotland from the half way point.
Does time on remand count?
Yes, in all parts of the UK. Time held in custody before sentencing counts towards the sentence. In England and Wales it comes off automatically. In Scotland the court normally backdates the sentence to cover it, so check whether the judge already counted it before taking it off again here.
What if the release date lands on a weekend?
Prisons do not normally release people on a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday. If the date lands on one, release usually moves to the working day before.
Can they get out even earlier on a tag?
In England and Wales, some people on normal sentences under 4 years can leave up to 180 days early on a tag (HDC). Scotland runs its own home detention curfew scheme with its own rules. Northern Ireland has no direct equivalent. Our tag checker covers England and Wales.
What is recall? They got out but went back in.
People released early are on licence, and breaking the rules can mean being sent back. In England and Wales, most people on normal sentences now serve a fixed 56 days after recall. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, recall goes to their own parole bodies. This calculator handles England and Wales recalls.