Prison releases

Support if you are worried about changes to prison release arrangements.

If you are worried about what changes to prison release arrangements could mean for your or someone you know, support is available.

You can ask for information, advice and emotional support if you are:

  • A victim of crime
  • A family member, carer or supporter
  • A witness
  • A child or young person affected by an offender’s release

You do not need to be registered with the Victim Contact Scheme to ask for support.

Need help now?

Contact Greater Manchester Victims’ Services:

  • Call 0800 876 6155
  • Email GMVictims@catch-22.org.uk

If you or someone else is in danger call 999.

If you need urgent police help but it is not an emergency, call 101.

What is changing?

The Government is introducing changes to prison release arrangements through the Sentencing Act 2026.

The changes affect how long some offenders spend in prison before serving the rest of their sentence on licence in the community.

A new three-part model, called the Progression Model, will be introduced for standard determinate sentences. All offenders through the Progression Model will be subject to licence conditions and a period of intensive supervision.

The changes do not apply to more than 18,000 offenders. You can read the Government’s Sentencing Act 2026 offence exclusions.

You can also read the Government’s guide for victims about changes to prison release arrangements.

The official guidance confirms that the model applies to standard determinate sentences and involves three stages: prison, intensive supervision in the community and a final period on licence.

What support is available?

National changes to prison release and supervision arrangements are being introduced under the Progression Model.

Some adults serving eligible fixed-term sentences may be released earlier than they would have been previously. They will remain on licence and will be subject to supervision and conditions in the community.

Greater Manchester Victims’ Services can offer:

  • Information about the Progression Model and what it may mean for victims and survivors
  • Emotional support and reassurance
  • Practical advice and guidance
  • Help to identify any support or safety needs
  • Referrals to local and specialist services
  • Additional support for people with more complex needs

Support is available regardless of the type of crime involved.

National and local support

Victim Support’s dedicated Offender Release Helpline provides information, emotional and practical support, and help to access other services.

It is available to people who are affected by, or worried about, the release of an offender.

Support may include:

  • General information about the Progression Model
  • Emotional support
  • Practical guidance
  • Help to identify support and safeguarding needs
  • Referrals to local and specialist services

You can contact the Offender Release Helpline on 0800 168 9280.

Further information and online support are available on the Victim Support Offender Release Helpline website.

How Greater Manchester Victims’ Services can help

Greater Manchester Victims’ Services is here to help anyone in Greater Manchester who has been affected by crime. This includes people who are worried about changes to prison release arrangements.

As well as directing you to national support, Greater Manchester Victims’ Services can:

  • Help you understand what local support may be available
  • Talk through any concerns you have
  • Help connect you with the right service for your needs

Useful contacts:

Greater Manchester Victims’ Services – Local information, advice and emotional support for people in Greater Manchester who are worried about changes to prison release arrangements.
Phone: 0800 876 6155
Email: GMVictims@catch-22.org.uk

Victim Support Offender Release Helpline – National information, emotional support and practical guidance for people affected by, or worried about, an offender’s release.
Phone: 0808 168 9280

Specialist support

Specialist support is available for people affected by:

  • Domestic abuse
  • Sexual violence
  • Stalking
  • Violence against women and girls
  • Issues linked to being a male victim
  • Issues affecting LGBT+ victims
  • Issues affecting Black and minoritised victims and survivors
  • Other specialist support needs

Greater Manchester Victims’ Services can help you access the right support at the right time.

What the helpline cannot do

Support services can provide general information and support, but they cannot give information about a specific offender.

This includes:

  • Whether an offender is being released
  • Release dates
  • Licence conditions
  • Offender management arrangements

If you have a Victim Liaison Officer, they remain the right person to speak to about your individual case.

If you feel at immediate risk, call 999.

All types of crime