Understanding the Sentencing Act 2026 Progression Model – What It May Mean for Victim-Survivors
At FLAG DV, we know that many victim-survivors of domestic abuse and family violence continue to live with the impact of abuse long after a perpetrator has been sentenced. For some, the knowledge that a perpetrator is serving a prison sentence can provide a sense of safety and stability. News of changes to sentencing arrangements may therefore feel unsettling, worrying, or even retraumatising.
Many victim-survivors may be asking difficult questions:
- Will this affect the person who harmed me?
- Could they be released earlier than expected?
- What support is available if I am worried?
While FLAG DV provides family law support rather than criminal justice advice, we recognise that many of our service users may be affected by these changes and may be understandably concerned about what they mean for their safety and wellbeing.
What is changing?
The Sentencing Act 2026 introduces a new “Progression Model” for some people serving prison sentences. Under these changes, some offenders serving Standard Determinate Sentences (SDS) may become eligible for release earlier than under previous arrangements, although they will remain subject to strict licence conditions and supervision in the community.
Importantly, not everyone in prison will be affected by these changes.
What is a Standard Determinate Sentence?
A Standard Determinate Sentence (SDS) is the most common type of fixed-term prison sentence. The court decides the length of the sentence, and the offender is released automatically at a specified point before the sentence ends, with the remainder served on licence in the community.
Under the new Progression Model, people serving certain Standard Determinate Sentences may become eligible for release earlier than they would have been previously.
This means that if the person who harmed you is serving a Standard Determinate Sentence, their release date may be reviewed as part of these changes.
What is an Extended Determinate Sentence (EDS)?
An Extended Determinate Sentence (EDS) is different.
These sentences are imposed when a court determines that an offender presents a significant risk of causing serious harm to the public. They are often used in cases involving serious violent or sexual offences.
The Government has confirmed that people serving Extended Determinate Sentences are not eligible for the Progression Model changes. They will continue to be subject to existing arrangements, including review by the Parole Board, and will not be released any earlier as a result of these reforms.
The Government has also confirmed that approximately 17,000 prisoners serving extended or indeterminate sentences are excluded from these changes.
What protections are in place for victims?
For many victim-survivors, hearing about earlier release arrangements can understandably trigger fear, uncertainty, or concerns about personal safety.
The Government has stated that offenders released under the Progression Model will remain subject to licence conditions and supervision in the community. These can include restrictions on where they can go, who they can contact, and other measures designed to manage risk. Those who breach licence conditions can be recalled to prison.
Victims who are registered with the Victim Contact Scheme (VCS) can continue to make representations about licence conditions they believe are necessary for their safety, such as exclusion zones or no-contact conditions.
If you are worried, you do not have to navigate this alone
We recognise that reading about these changes may bring up difficult emotions. You may find yourself revisiting safety concerns, feeling anxious about the future, or wanting more information about whether a particular case is affected.
If this is the case, we encourage you to reach out to any professional who is currently supporting you, or who has supported you in the past. This might include:
- An Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA)
- A domestic abuse support worker
- A family law professional
- A counsellor or therapist
- A social worker
- A Victim Liaison Officer or Victim Contact Scheme representative
If you are registered with the Victim Contact Scheme, your Victim Liaison Officer should be able to provide information about whether the offender in your case may be affected by these changes and discuss any concerns you have about safety planning and licence conditions. The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that potentially affected victims registered with the scheme will be contacted directly as sentence reviews take place.
A final word
At FLAG DV, we understand that changes within the criminal justice system can feel deeply personal for victim-survivors. While these reforms do not apply to everyone serving a prison sentence, they may affect some cases and naturally lead to questions and concerns.
If you are feeling worried, please remember that support is available. Reaching out for information, reassurance, or practical safety planning is not overreacting—it is a valid response to uncertainty.
You deserve clear information, support, and the opportunity to have your voice heard in decisions that affect your safety and wellbeing.
