Calculation of prisoner leaving dates

Summary

The requester asked for the full calculation system used to determine prisoner release dates, but the Department of Home Affairs refused to provide it directly, stating the information is already reasonably accessible via the Custody Act 1995 and Custody Rules 2015.

Key Facts

• The request was received on 2025-11-17 and responded to on 2025-12-04.
• The authority cited Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 to refuse the request.
• The requested information is contained within the Schedules of 'The Custody Act 1995' and 'Custody Rules 2015'.
• The Department of Home Affairs provided a link to the Isle of Man legislation website for the requester to find the documents.
• The request was closed with no information sent as it was deemed already reasonably accessible.

Data Disclosed

• 2025-11-17
• 2025-12-04
• 5090105
• 1995
• 2015
• Section 20
• Part 2

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information already reasonably accessible)

Original Request

Please publish the entire calculation system used to determine the date any prisoner is going to expect to leave prison. Clearly they receive a sentence which is usually halved and may have added other days for many other reasons including proceeds of crime, probation days and court visits. I cannot find this documented anywhere and I believe prisoners need and deserve to have not just an exit date but the entire calculation upon which it is based as without this information it will be a misunderstood or potentially unfair calculation. Clarity within the justice system seems without this to be obscured.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Coordinator DHA Headquarters Tromode Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 5AP

Telephone: (01624) 687017 Web address: www.gov.im/dha
Email: DPO-DHA@dha.gov.im

Our ref: 5090105 2 December 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 17 November 2025, which states:

"Please publish the entire calculation system used to determine the date any prisoner is going to expect to leave prison. Clearly they receive a sentence which is usually halved and may have added other days for many other reasons including proceeds of crime, probation days and court visits. I cannot find this documented anywhere and I believe prisoners need and deserve to have not just an exit date but the entire calculation upon which it is based as without this information it will be a misunderstood or potentially unfair calculation. Clarity within the justice system seems without this to be obscured."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under section 20 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you, whether free of charge or on payment of a fee.
The information that you have requested is available within the Schedules of ‘The Custody Act 1995’ (and the Custody Rules 2015 that accompany it). You can find this information here: https://legislation.gov.im/cms/legislation/current/by-title.html Please quote the reference number 5090105 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.