Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL)

In certain circumstances a prisoner will be allowed to leave prison on a temporary licence. The purpose of this is either for compassionate reasons or to help the prisoner improve their chances of resettlement after their release.

The system of release on temporary licence (ROTL) is designed to ensure that suitable prisoners are released for precisely defined and specific activities, which cannot be provided in Prison Service establishments.

Prisoners may be released temporarily on licence under the provisions of Prison Rule 9. In order to ensure public safety and maintain public confidence in the system, prisoners are only released on temporary licence after they have been rigorously assessed and approved for ROTL by an authorised senior manager.

Prisoners may not be granted release on temporary licence to any place outside the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

Ineligible Groups

• prisoners in Category A or on the escape list;
• unconvicted and convicted un-sentenced prisoners;
• prisoners subject to extradition proceedings;
• sentenced prisoners who are remanded on further charges/awaiting sentence for further convictions;
• prisoners held on behalf of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia;
• additionally, Category B prisoners are not eligible for resettlement day or overnight release.

Certain groups of prisoners are given special consideration before any release e.g. life sentence prisoners.

Types of licence

1. Special Purpose licences: for exceptional personal reasons such as to visit dying relatives, attend funerals, for marriage or religious services, to receive medical treatment and to attend court, tribunal or inquiry proceedings.

2. Resettlement Day Release licences: for prisoners to participate in reparative and community service projects, maintaining family ties, housing, employment, life and work skills training/education courses.

3. Resettlement Overnight Release Licences: for prisoners to maintain family ties and to make arrangements for accommodation, work/training on release , to spend time at their release address and as such is a key goal for prisoners reaching the end of their sentences.

4. Childcare resettlement licence: for prisoners in open or semi-open conditions or categorised as suitable for such conditions or in a mother and baby unit and are assessed to have sole caring responsibility for a child under 16.