Prison Release Dates: How Sentences Are Calculated and Where to Find the Date
By Daniel Hockey · Checked against GOV.UK and legislation · Last updated 8 October 2026 · 10 min read
The short answer: Prison release dates in England and Wales are calculated by trained prison staff from the court's warrant, not by the judge. For most adult standard sentences imposed from 1 October 2026, the conditional release date (CRD) is the one-third point, and the sentence and licence expiry date (SLED) is the end of the whole sentence. Remand time and tagged bail credit bring the CRD forward. The prisoner must receive a written release date slip within 5 working days of sentence. Families usually find out the date from the prisoner, because prisons will not normally disclose it without consent.
Need support?
- Prisoners' Families Helpline 0808 808 2003 (free)
- Samaritans 116 123 (24 hours)
- Find a solicitor: ask for the duty solicitor at the police station or search the Law Society's Find a Solicitor service.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who calculates | Licensed sentence calculation staff in the prison |
| Main release date | Conditional release date (CRD) |
| End of sentence | Sentence and licence expiry date (SLED) |
| Prisoner told within | 5 working days of sentence or any change |
| Checks before release | Blind re-check 14 calendar days and 2 working days before release |
| Weekend or bank holiday release | Brought forward to the previous eligible working day |
| 2026 change | One-third release for most standard sentences (Sentencing Act 2026, s23) |
How a prison release date is calculated
The judge or magistrates pass the sentence. They do not usually tell you the release date. Once you arrive in prison, staff take the court's warrant and work out each key date in days.
The building blocks of a calculation
- The sentence length from the warrant, including whether terms are concurrent or consecutive.
- The release fraction set by law for that type of sentence and offence.
- The sentence date as day one.
- Remand time spent in custody for that offence or a related one.
- Tagged bail credit directed by the court, at half a day per qualifying day.
- Added days awarded for breaking prison rules, and any time unlawfully at large.
The result gives a release date and the date the sentence ends. Our guide on how long you will actually serve explains the release fractions in detail.
The release fractions now in force
| Sentence | Custodial part | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adult standard determinate sentence (most offences) | One third | From 1 October 2026, phased in for existing prisoners to June 2027 |
| SDS+ (certain serious violent or sexual sentences of 4 years or more) | One half | Previously two-thirds |
| Excluded offences, such as rape and manslaughter | Unchanged | Keep their pre-October 2026 release point |
| Detention of under-18s under Sentencing Code s250 | One half | Not affected by the adult change |
| Extended and life sentences | Parole Board or end of custodial term | Outside the 2026 model |
Concurrent and consecutive sentences
Concurrent sentences run at the same time, so the longest one usually drives the dates. Consecutive sentences are added together and treated as a single term. When sentences have different release fractions, the calculation becomes technical. Our guide to concurrent and consecutive sentences walks through it.
What the release date terms mean
The Prison Service uses abbreviations on release date slips and in its records. These are the ones you are most likely to see.
| Abbreviation | Full name | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| CRD | Conditional Release Date | Automatic release on licence. For most adult standard sentences now the one-third point |
| SLED | Sentence and Licence Expiry Date | The end of the whole sentence, when the licence also ends |
| HDCED | Home Detention Curfew Eligibility Date | The earliest date you can be released on HDC with a tag, if suitable |
| ARD | Automatic Release Date | Used for sentences under 12 months for offences committed before 1 February 2015 |
| SED | Sentence Expiry Date | End of sentence on some older or short sentences |
| LED | Licence Expiry Date | Mainly seen on older sentences, where licence ended before the sentence |
| PED | Parole Eligibility Date | Earliest date the Parole Board can consider release |
| PRRD | Post Recall Release Date | Re-release date after a recall |
| ERSED | Early Removal Scheme Eligibility Date | Earliest date a foreign national can be removed from the UK |
| TUSED | Top Up Supervision Expiry Date | End of post-sentence supervision on short sentences |
A note on TUSED and post-sentence supervision
Post-sentence supervision for short sentences was abolished by section 34 of the Sentencing Act 2026 from 11 May 2026. You may still see a TUSED on older paperwork. The repeal also covers supervision requirements imposed before that date, although a failure to comply that began before 11 May 2026 can still be dealt with under the old rules.
Dates for extended and indeterminate sentences
People serving extended, life or IPP sentences will see a PED or tariff expiry date rather than an automatic CRD. Release then depends on the Parole Board. Our guide to the parole process explains how that works.
Where to find a release date
The release date notification slip
HMPPS policy says a release date notification slip must be given to the prisoner no later than 5 working days after sentence, or after any change to the calculation. If information is missing, such as remand warrants, the slip is marked provisional and a new one is issued once the calculation is confirmed.
Checks before release
The Sentence Calculation Policy Framework requires the calculation to be checked 14 calendar days before release by a different person, working blind. It is checked again 2 working days before release, including confirming there is nothing else holding the person and that the licence is correct.
If the prisoner thinks the date is wrong
The prisoner should ask the custody or offender management team, in writing if possible, and tell their solicitor.
Common things to check
- Remand days missing because a remand warrant was not received
- Tagged bail credit that the court did not direct or announce
- Consecutive terms recorded as concurrent, or the reverse
- The wrong release fraction for the offence, especially for excluded offences
If the court made an error in the sentence itself, it can usually be corrected only by the court.
Why a release date can change
A release date is not fixed for good. It can move forward or back.
Changes that bring release forward
- The 2026 tranches. Prisoners already serving a standard sentence move to one-third release on a date set by sentence length, from 1 October 2026 for sentences under 575 days to 8 June 2027 for those over 4,396 days. People who have already passed the new point are released on the first day of their tranche.
- Remand or tag credit found later and added to the calculation.
- Home detention curfew, if you are eligible and suitable. See our HDC guide.
- A successful appeal against sentence.
Changes that push release back
- Added days. An independent adjudicator can add up to 84 days for each proven disciplinary offence by an adult committed on or after 2 September 2026.
- Time unlawfully at large, such as absconding or failing to return from temporary release.
- A new sentence for another offence.
- Recall after release, which returns you to custody. See licence and recall.
Weekend and bank holiday releases
If an adult's release date falls on a weekend or bank holiday, it is brought forward to the previous eligible working day. Under the discretionary Friday release scheme, prisons can also bring a release forward by up to 2 eligible working days, so that people are not released just before a weekend when services are closed. For example, a Friday release usually moves to the Thursday. People must have served at least 28 days, including remand and tagged bail, to be eligible.
Worked example: reading a release date slip
Imagine an adult sentenced on 5 October 2026 to 3 years for a non-excluded offence, who spent 60 days on remand and 90 days on tagged curfew bail.
| Step | Calculation |
|---|---|
| Sentence length | 3 years (1,095 days) |
| Custodial part (one third) | 365 days |
| Minus remand | 365 − 60 = 305 days |
| Minus tagged bail credit (90 ÷ 2) | 305 − 45 = 260 days |
| CRD | About 260 days after the sentence date, in late June 2027 |
| HDCED | Earlier, if eligible for home detention curfew |
| SLED | 3 years from the sentence date, adjusted for credit |
The prison will produce the exact dates. This example is only a guide to the method.
How families can find out a release date
Prisons hold personal data about prisoners and will not usually share release dates with family members unless the prisoner agrees.
Practical ways to find out
- Ask the person in prison. They will have a release date slip and can share it by phone, letter or a visit.
- Ask them to give consent. With the prisoner's agreement, their offender manager or the prison may be able to discuss release planning with you.
- Use the Prisoners' Families Helpline. It can explain the process on 0808 808 2003.
- Find the prison first. If you do not know where your relative is, the government's Find a Prisoner service can help, but only with the prisoner's permission and within about 4 weeks. Our guide on how to find someone in prison explains the steps.
If you are a victim
Victims of specified serious violent or sexual offences, where the sentence is 12 months or more, can join the Victim Contact Scheme. A victim liaison officer can share release information where appropriate and take representations about licence conditions. The government is setting up a separate process for victims who are not eligible for the scheme.
Getting ready for the date
Once you know the CRD, start planning for housing, money and probation appointments. The last weeks matter. Our guide to preparing for release covers what happens, including the first probation appointment and licence conditions.
Frequently asked questions
How are prison release dates worked out?
Prison staff take the sentence length from the court warrant, apply the release fraction for that sentence type, and subtract remand time and any tagged bail credit. For most adult standard sentences from 1 October 2026 the release point is one third. Added days for rule-breaking can push the date back.
What does CRD mean on a prison release date slip?
CRD stands for conditional release date. It is the date you are automatically released on licence. For most adult standard sentences it is now the one-third point of the sentence, adjusted for remand and tag credit.
What is the difference between CRD and SLED?
The CRD is when you leave prison. The SLED, or sentence and licence expiry date, is when the whole sentence ends. Between the two you are on licence in the community and can be recalled.
How soon will a prisoner know their release date?
HMPPS policy requires a release date notification slip within 5 working days of sentence. It may be marked provisional if paperwork such as remand warrants is missing, and a confirmed slip follows later.
Can a family member find out a prisoner's release date?
Usually only through the prisoner, or with their consent. Prisons do not normally disclose release dates to relatives without permission. Victims of certain serious offences can get release information through the Victim Contact Scheme instead.
Why has a prisoner's release date changed in 2026?
The Sentencing Act 2026 moved most standard sentences to one-third release from 1 October 2026, phased in by sentence length until June 2027. Dates are being recalculated, which the Ministry of Justice warned could take several weeks.
Are prisoners released on a Friday?
Usually not. Adult release dates falling on a Friday, weekend or bank holiday are normally brought forward to the previous eligible working day, and prisons have discretion to bring them forward by up to 2 eligible working days.
Sources and how we checked this page
This page was written by Daniel Hockey and checked on 8 October 2026 against:
- HMPPS Sentence Calculation Policy Framework
- HMPPS Sentence Calculation Policy Framework, Annex A: operational guidance
- HMPPS Discretionary Friday/Pre-Bank Holiday Release Scheme Policy Framework
- Sentencing Act 2026, section 23 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Sentencing Act 2026, section 34 (legislation.gov.uk)
- SI 2026/953: Sentencing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 6 and Revocation) Regulations 2026
- Criminal Justice Act 2003, section 240ZA (legislation.gov.uk)
- Sentencing Act 2020, section 325 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Prison Rules 1999, rule 55A (legislation.gov.uk)
- GOV.UK: Progression model: changes to prison release arrangements
- GOV.UK: Apply to find a prisoner's location
- GOV.UK: Support for families and friends of prisoners
This page is general information about the law in England and Wales, not legal advice. Every case depends on its facts. Speak to a qualified solicitor about your situation.