Truth in Sentencing

The chapter explores the evolution of early release policy and practice between 1987 and 1992—a transitional period sometimes described as an ‘Indian Summer’ for liberal criminal justice policy. It begins with a brief overview of the challenges facing the criminal justice system on the eve of the 1987 General Election. It goes on to consider the piecemeal modification of remission arrangements in July 1987, a measure to relieve pressure on the prison system that ultimately came at a high cost for the Home Office. It provides a detailed overview of the proceedings of the Carlisle Committee and the compromises that laid the ground for their final report ‘The Parole System in England and Wales’. The chapter concludes by reflecting upon the initial reaction to the Carlisle Report and the considerable uncertainty within the Home Office about how best to respond to these challenging proposals.