Automatic Early Release

This is the point at which an offender will be released from prison and is set out in law passed by the Scottish Parliament. 

Offenders given a short term sentence (less than four years) normally will be automatically released from prison into the community after serving a fixed portion of their sentence in prison. This is presently 30%, except for those serving sentences for sexual offences or domestic abuse, for whom it is 50%. Automatic early release does not apply to those serving extended sentences. The person is not normally supervised by a social worker unless they are sentenced to a sexual offence of six months or more in prison, or are placed on a Supervised Release Order.

Offenders given a long term sentence (four years or more) will usually serve all but the final six months of the sentence in prison unless the Parole Board for Scotland recommends that they should be released earlier into the community. The Parole Board will only start to consider whether or not to release the person as they approach the halfway point of their sentence. If an offender is not released at that point, the Board will re-consider parole within 12 months.