In Scotland or Northern Ireland? What is different

Prison law is different in each UK nation. Here is what changes, in plain words, and where the official answers live.

Our tools and where they work The release date calculator covers all three systems: pick where they were sentenced. Most of our other calculators use England and Wales rules and say so on the page. The guides about staying in touch, children and visits apply broadly everywhere.

Scotland

Release: most sentences under 4 years mean release at 30% (from 12 May 2026, including people already serving). Domestic abuse and sexual offences stay at half. Four years or more: the Parole Board for Scotland from half way, with release on licence 6 months before the end if parole never comes.
Remand: the court usually backdates the sentence to cover it.
Tag: Scotland has its own home detention curfew scheme. Ask the prison.
Family help: the charity Families Outside runs a free helpline for prisoners' families in Scotland: 0800 254 0088.
Official sources: the Scottish Prison Service family pages and mygov.scot.

Northern Ireland

Release: most fixed sentences split in half: prison then licence. Extended and indeterminate sentences go to the Parole Commissioners.
Tag: no direct equivalent of the England and Wales scheme.
Visits help: ask the prison visitor centre; the charity NIACRO supports prisoners' families across NI.
Official sources: nidirect on custodial sentences and the NI Prison Service.

What stays the same everywhere

They ring you, from approved numbers, and they pay. How contact works.
Letters always get through, and money in makes the first weeks easier.
Days on remand count towards the sentence.
Every prison has a page here with its official links: find their prison.

Common questions

When do prisoners get out in Scotland?

Most people serving under 4 years are released at 30% of the sentence, a rule that started on 12 May 2026 and covers people already serving. Sentences for domestic abuse or sexual offences are excluded and stay at half. People serving 4 years or more can be freed by the Parole Board for Scotland from the half way point, and if parole never comes they are released on licence 6 months before the end.

When do prisoners get out in Northern Ireland?

Most fixed sentences split in half: the first half in prison, the second on licence. Extended and indeterminate sentences go to the Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland.

Is there a tag scheme in Scotland or Northern Ireland?

Scotland runs its own home detention curfew scheme with its own rules: ask the prison or check the Scottish Prison Service site. Northern Ireland has no direct equivalent of the tag scheme.

Can I get help with visit travel costs?

The Assisted Prison Visits Scheme covers visits to prisons in England, Scotland and Wales. In Northern Ireland, ask the prison visitor centre about the support available there, including through the charity NIACRO.

Do the same benefits rules apply?

Broadly yes across Great Britain, and Northern Ireland has matching benefits with its own offices. Wherever you are: tell the benefits office and the council (or NI rates office) straight away when someone goes inside.