Release on temporary licence

Under the Prison (Jersey) rules 2007, the prison may temporarily release a prisoner serving a sentence of imprisonment for a period subject to such conditions as the prison may determine. 

Most Release on Temporary Licences (R.O.T.L’s) are given to prisoners as part of their sentence plan to help them accrue funds for accommodation, foster family relationships and to reintegrate them back into society by enabling them to find employment. 

Temporary release is a privilege, not a right, and all prisoners who are granted temporary release are required to return to the prison at the end of the agreed period of release.  Any temporary release is subject to conditions with which the prisoner must comply. 

Each case is risk assessed and considered by a R.O.T.L panel which comprises the Governor, Prison Probation Officer, Prison Psychologist, Unit Manager and Head of Residence and a member of the public who has been appointed by the Minister for Home Affairs.

 Temporary release is used for the following purposes:

•  Outside employment or to received instruction or training

•  Home leave for number of reasons  

Temporary Release Monitoring Scheme

The Temporary Release Monitoring Scheme (TRMS) or “tagging” was introduced in April 2003 and is available for a maximum of 6 months before a prisoner’s “earliest date of release” (EDR).  Prisoners will only be released on TRMS to a suitable address in Jersey and will be expected to maintain full time employment during the time that they are released.  They will also be expected to observe a curfew, which is normally between 9pm and 7am.  Any breach of the licence conditions can mean that a prisoner is removed from the scheme.