Huhne and Pryce Released from Prison

Today Chris Huhne and Vicky Pryce have been released from prison following their convictions for perverting the course of justice.

They were released after serving eight weeks of an eight month prison sentence.

They were convicted after Ms Pryce accepted Mr Huhne’s speeding penalty points. He was in danger of losing his driving licence. For the full original story, see this article.

Huhne pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial. Pryce was convicted at her second trial. Her first trial collapsed following concerns about the jury. On both occasions she pleaded the defence of marital coercion.

The pair is awaiting a decision on how much of the prosecution’s cost they will have to pay. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is claiming £108,541 from Huhne. It is claiming £48,695 from Pryce.

Home Detention Curfew

Huhne and Pryce only served one quarter of their sentences. Normally, prisoners are released on licence at the half way point of their sentence. However the Home Detention Curfew (found in section 246 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003) provides that prisoners can be released on licence earlier. Prisoners will be subject to a curfew and electronically monitored (known as ‘tagging’).

Some prisoners are exempt from the Home Detention Curfew scheme, but for those who are eligible, most prisoners will be released on Home Detention Curfew. The scheme is designed to help reintegrate prisoners back into society.