The first annual administrative reviews of the release status of enemy combatant detainees at Guantanamo Bay are likely to begin in November, according to Navy Secretary Gordon England, speaking at the Pentagon Friday. Detainees are currently going through a two-step process. In step one, a Combatant Status Review Tribunal (CSRT) determines whether an individual detainee has properly been classified as an "enemy combatant." To date, approximately 1/5 of the CSRTs have been conducted, covering 115 of the approximately 550 detainees. In step two, if there has been a determination that a detainee is indeed an enemy combatant, that detainee is subject to an administrative review board (ARB) hearing. These are the hearings that are expected to start in November under procedures approved by Secretary England on September 14.

The ARB session is an annual process at which evidence and witnesses are presented to determine if the detainee is still a threat. If it is determined that the detainee is not a threat, the detainee will be returned to his home country, to face further detention or release. Otherwise the detainee will remain in US custody. Audio from England’s media briefing is available here. American Forces Press Service has more.