The Parole Process
The parole process for determinate parole reviews begins six months before prisoners are first eligible for release on parole. A dossier will be compiled of all the material to go before the Parole Board and the prisoner will be shown all such reports, unless it is considered some material should not be shown. Any proposal to withhold material must be referred to the chair of the Parole Board and the prisoner’s comments and representations will go before the Parole Board when the case is considered. An interview may be arranged with a member of the Parole Board and if an interview does take place, the record of this interview is disclosed and then placed with the other papers. Prisoners should be told whether parole has been granted three weeks before you are eligible for release and reasons for the decision will be given. The release dates of long and short-term prisoners will be subject to postponement if additional day awards have been made as punishment for disciplinary offences.
The Secretary of State for Justice has power to release any prisoner on compassionate grounds in exceptional circumstances. This power is normally reserved for prisoners who are in the advanced stages of a terminal illness. If you are released on compassionate grounds you will be subject to supervision up to the three-quarters point in your sentence or, for those serving less than twelve months, the halfway point.
Recalls
If a prisoner is recalled, the Release and Recall Section are required to provide written reasons for the decision and a copy of the papers relied upon. The prisoner can then make written representations to the Parole Board who will decide if the recall was justified. In cases where the recall is contested and there are disputed facts or other complicated issues, the Board should convene an oral hearing to allow a fair decision to be made.
The Secretary of State for Justice has power to release any prisoner on compassionate grounds in exceptional circumstances. This power is normally reserved for prisoners who are in the advanced stages of a terminal illness. If you are released on compassionate grounds you will be subject to supervision up to the three-quarters point in your sentence or, for those serving less than twelve months, the halfway point.
Recalls
If a prisoner is recalled, the Release and Recall Section are required to provide written reasons for the decision and a copy of the papers relied upon. The prisoner can then make written representations to the Parole Board who will decide if the recall was justified. In cases where the recall is contested and there are disputed facts or other complicated issues, the Board should convene an oral hearing to allow a fair decision to be made.
