Supervised release order
Any person (other than a sex offender) sentenced to less than four years in custody can be ordered by the court to be supervised for up to one year following release. The supervision is compulsory. These orders are only imposed where the court believes it would help prevent serious harm. The offender must comply with the instructions of the supervising officer.
Short-term sex offender licence
Any person convicted of a sexual offence and sentenced to between six months and four years in custody will be subject to compulsory supervision arrangements from the date they are released (usually at the half-way point) until the end-date of their sentence.
Parole licence
Any person serving a sentence of four years or over (but excluding life) can ask the parole board to consider them for release on licence after serving half of their sentence. The parole board has to consider the risk that the offender may pose and whether these risks can be managed in the community. Failure to comply with the licence can result in a recall to prison for the remainder of the sentence.
Non-parole licence
Any person serving a sentence of four years or over (but excluding life) who fails to be released on parole, is automatically released on licence after serving two thirds of the sentence. Failure to comply with the licence can result in recall to prison for the rest of the sentence.
Extended sentence
Any person sentenced in the High Court for a violent or sexual offence, and in the Sheriff Court for a sexual offence, can be ordered by the court to be under 'extended sentence' following release. The period of extension can be up to five years in the Sheriff Court and ten years in the High Court. Failure to comply with the licence can result in recall to prison to serve the rest of the sentence.
Life licence
Any prisoner serving a life sentence is given a punishment tariff. This is the minimum period that the offender has to serve before being eligible for release on licence by the parole board. The parole board have to consider a variety of reports before deciding whether the prisoner’s risk can be managed in the community. A life licence lasts for the rest of the offender’s natural life. Failure to comply can result in recall to custody for the rest of his or her life.
Order for lifelong restriction
An Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) was introduced in Scotland in June 2006. The OLR provides for the lifelong supervision of high risk violent and sexual offenders and allows for a greater degree of intensive supervision to manage the risk that those individuals pose.
The OLR is designed to ensure that offenders, after having served an adequate period in prison to meet the requirements of punishment, do not present an unmanageable risk to public safety once they are released into the community. The period spent in the community is an integral part of the sentence, which lasts for the remaining period of the offender's life.
Voluntary through care
Voluntary through care is available to any person who has spent time in custody. This includes those who have been detained in police cells. We offer this service to offenders for up to one year after release. We have a dedicated voluntary through care worker whose main task is to offer advice and guidance to those who are eligible for voluntary support.
Through care addiction service
If, whilst in custody, offenders consider themselves in need of help with addictions, they are linked to a specialist worker in the community. We have a seconded substance misuse worker who provides this service. They will visit and keep in touch with the person in the run up to their release date. The worker keeps in touch for at least six months after release to support the person in their recovery.