Parole Board for England and Wales Triennial Review 2013

Overview

Triennial review programme

The public bodies sector is being reformed to stop the repetition of work and stop activities that aren’t needed. It is important that we run public services efficiently and effectively.

The reform programme will mean Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) will be reviewed every three years (a Triennial Review). A Triennial Review looks at the  NDPB’s work, the best way for this work to be carried out, and the structure for managing the public body.

The Ministry of Justice will be carrying out the Triennial Review of the Parole Board for England and Wales (Parole Board).

What will the review do?

The review has two stages:

• Stage 1: Test whether the Parole Board is still needed – looking at the service it provides to the public and what the best way to deliver that service is.
• Stage 2: If it is decided that the Parole Board should continue to be a NDPB, to look at the structure for managing it to make sure it is properly run.
   

What does the Parole Board do?

The Parole Board works to protect the public by deciding whether prisoners can be safely released into the community. It works with other groups across the criminal justice system. It was established in 1968 and became a NDPB on 1 July 1996.

The Parole Board has three main jobs:

• To decide whether to release indeterminate sentence prisoners. This group of prisoners includes life sentence prisoners and prisoners given Indeterminate Sentences for Public Protection (IPP); Discretionary Conditional Release (DCR) (determinate sentence) prisoners; Extended Sentence prisoners and Extended Sentences for Public Protection imposed before the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 came into force.
• To review the circumstances of recalling determinate and indeterminate sentence prisoners, and make a decision whether to re-release.
• To make recommendations to the Secretary of State for Justice on the transfer of indeterminate sentence prisoners from closed to open facilities.
   

How long will the review take?

The Triennial Review starts on 18 November 2013 and is expected to take six months to complete. The conclusions will be announced in parliament and a copy of the final report will be published on the www.gov.uk/moj

Call for evidence

To review the continuing need for the Parole Board and its work, the review team is looking for evidence from a range of groups. We would like evidence for stage 1 (above) first.

We would especially welcome hearing from stakeholders of the Parole Board.

Submissions can be made in writing:

Or by email: ParoleBoardTriennialReview@justice.gsi.gov.uk