Minimum terms

High Court setting of minimum terms for mandatory life sentences under the Criminal Justice Act 2003

Changes to procedure as a result of the Hammond Judgment

Mandatory Life Sentence Prisoners

By Schedule 22, para. 3 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (which came into force on 18th December 2003) a person who is serving a sentence of mandatory life imprisonment or custody for life may apply to the High Court for a review of the term already notified to them by the Secretary of State as the minimum term to be served before release on licence. The High Court has no power to increase the term as notified by the Secretary of State. A person serving a mandatory life sentence who has not yet been notified of a tariff by the Home Secretary will have his/her case referred to the High Court by the Home Secretary for a minimum term to be set - Schedule 22, para. 6 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. The administration of the applications and references is be the responsibility of the The Life Imprisonment Minimum Term Section, Room CL 1.5, Clifford’s Inn, Fetter Lane, LONDON, EC4A 1DQ For telephone enquiries, please contact the Life Imprisonment Minimum Term team on 020 7947 6913 or by fax on 020 7947 6893.