The UK currently has 246 members to make decisions about people in prisons. The Parole Board UK was founded under the Criminal Justice Act 1967. Later after years it became a free body governed by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
The Secretary of State is the one who decides the board members for the Parole Board. But, the board is supposed to make decisions on their own.
What Does the Parole Board UK Do?
In the UK, this board decides if prisoners are ready for release or not. This involves assessing their progress in rehab. The board determines if prisoners who are eligible for parole can safely be released into the community.
According to Professor Nick Hardwick from the Royal Holloway University of London,
“All parole decisions are fraught with difficulty. They are making a judgement about future risk; not a finding of fact about past events.”
Professor Nick Hardwick
The board transfers prisoners to open facilities based on their conduct.
How Does a Parole Board Hearing Work?
Most hearings happen by phone or video. But in certain cases it might need your presence physically. In that case the hearing will be held at the prison. The members of a panel will make a decision based on the details given by the prison.
This includes:
- your behaviour in prison
- what you plan to do once released
- whether you’re a danger to the public
- why you’re in prison
- previous offences
- what the judge said when you were sentenced
- the victim statement
- Medical or psychiatric evidence
Who Will be at The Hearing?
You must usually attend the hearing. Usually the following people are also needed to be there:
- your solicitor
- a prison psychologist
- the victim
- the victim liaison officer
- witnesses
Explore our guide to Understanding Medico Legal Reporting in the UK.
Decision For Indeterminate Sentences
The board has to consider some factors when deciding parole for prisoners of life sentence.
- The nature of the crime
- The prisoner’s conduct
- The risk to public safety
They decide if it’s safe to release a prisoner after they serve their lowest term. They also decide whether to recall them if they break parole.
Decision For Determinate Sentences
For those with fixed term sentences, the Parole board still plays a key role. It focuses on how much prisoners are willing for rehab. It also looks at their conduct for public safety. It also includes those recalled after an initial release.
How Forensic Psychologists Come into Play?
Being experts in their fields, they are crucial in knowing prisoners’ mental health. They mainly assess risk and provide their insight to the board.
Their work includes:
Assessing Conditions:
Studying factors affecting prisoners.
Analysing Prison Dynamics:
Such as bullying and its effects.
Profiling Offenders:
Using data to understand criminal behaviour.
Supporting Prison Staff:
Helping with stress and crises.
Conducting Therapy:
Using CBT to address mental health issues.
Psychological Assessment
The board assesses risk. They find whether prisoners have improved and pose little risk of harm. In such a case, a prisoner’s chances of being released on parole increases.
However, they can’t ensure that every prisoner who sees a forensic expert won’t commit another crime.
Risk Assessments
These are made to inform parole decisions.
RSVP:
Sexual Offending Risk
SARAv3:
Intimate Partner Violence Risk
VERA-2R:
Terrorism/Extremist Violence Risk
HCR-20v3:
General Violence Risk
These help determine if a prisoner is safe to release.
Psychometric Assessments
These are for prisoners with disorders. They include:
Autism Screening:
ADOS-2, ADI-R
ADHD Screening:
DIVA, ACE+
Personality Disorders:
SCID-5-PD, MCMI-IV
Learning Disabilities:
WAIS-IV, ABAS-3
It ensures the board has all the details of the prisoner’s condition.
Explore the Top 5 Advantages of a Forensic Psychiatrist Near Me.
Is the Parole Board a Court?
No, it is not. But it acts like a court in some ways. It’s independent and its decisions must follow legal principles.
Sharing Findings
Forensic psychologists in the UK are expert witnesses for the Parole board. They must do in-depth research. They study criminal conduct, risks, and progress areas.
Forensic experts must clearly share their findings to the board. They do this through expert reports. These reports need to be clear, concise. They must also be legally compliant to inform parole decisions.
How Can Concise Medico Help?
Forensic experts assess and provide testimony for Parole Board UK. Their work helps ensure that parole decisions are informed and fair. At Concise Medico we truly understand your concerns. Our solicitor can help you by:
- Preparing clients for the hearings
- Assisting them through the Parole process.
- Countering false and harmful reports about clients.
- Completing and submitting documents for the board.
- Appealing against unfavourable decisions.
If you need advice for a parole case, contact our experts. We are here to help you through the process to achieve justice.
FAQs
The UK currently has 246 members to make decisions about people in prisons. The Parole Board UK was founded under the Criminal Justice Act 1967. Later after years it became a free body governed by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
The Secretary of State is the one who decides the board members for the Parole Board. But, the board is supposed to make decisions on their own.
What Does the Parole Board UK Do?
In the UK, this board decides if prisoners are ready for release or not. This involves assessing their progress in rehab. The board determines if prisoners who are eligible for parole can safely be released into the community.
According to Professor Nick Hardwick from the Royal Holloway University of London,
“All parole decisions are fraught with difficulty. They are making a judgement about future risk; not a finding of fact about past events.”
Professor Nick Hardwick
The board transfers prisoners to open facilities based on their conduct.
How Does a Parole Board Hearing Work?
Most hearings happen by phone or video. But in certain cases it might need your presence physically. In that case the hearing will be held at the prison. The members of a panel will make a decision based on the details given by the prison.
This includes:
- your behaviour in prison
- what you plan to do once released
- whether you’re a danger to the public
- why you’re in prison
- previous offences
- what the judge said when you were sentenced
- the victim statement
- Medical or psychiatric evidence
Who Will be at The Hearing?
You must usually attend the hearing. Usually the following people are also needed to be there:
- your solicitor
- a prison psychologist
- the victim
- the victim liaison officer
- witnesses
Explore our guide to Understanding Medico Legal Reporting in the UK.
Decision For Indeterminate Sentences
The board has to consider some factors when deciding parole for prisoners of life sentence.
- The nature of the crime
- The prisoner’s conduct
- The risk to public safety
They decide if it’s safe to release a prisoner after they serve their lowest term. They also decide whether to recall them if they break parole.
Decision For Determinate Sentences
For those with fixed term sentences, the Parole board still plays a key role. It focuses on how much prisoners are willing for rehab. It also looks at their conduct for public safety. It also includes those recalled after an initial release.
How Forensic Psychologists Come into Play?
Being experts in their fields, they are crucial in knowing prisoners’ mental health. They mainly assess risk and provide their insight to the board.
Their work includes:
Assessing Conditions:
Studying factors affecting prisoners.
Analysing Prison Dynamics:
Such as bullying and its effects.
Profiling Offenders:
Using data to understand criminal behaviour.
Supporting Prison Staff:
Helping with stress and crises.
Conducting Therapy:
Using CBT to address mental health issues.
Psychological Assessment
The board assesses risk. They find whether prisoners have improved and pose little risk of harm. In such a case, a prisoner’s chances of being released on parole increases.
However, they can’t ensure that every prisoner who sees a forensic expert won’t commit another crime.
Risk Assessments
These are made to inform parole decisions.
RSVP:
Sexual Offending Risk
SARAv3:
Intimate Partner Violence Risk
VERA-2R:
Terrorism/Extremist Violence Risk
HCR-20v3:
General Violence Risk
These help determine if a prisoner is safe to release.
Psychometric Assessments
These are for prisoners with disorders. They include:
Autism Screening:
ADOS-2, ADI-R
ADHD Screening:
DIVA, ACE+
Personality Disorders:
SCID-5-PD, MCMI-IV
Learning Disabilities:
WAIS-IV, ABAS-3
It ensures the board has all the details of the prisoner’s condition.
Explore the Top 5 Advantages of a Forensic Psychiatrist Near Me.
Is the Parole Board a Court?
No, it is not. But it acts like a court in some ways. It’s independent and its decisions must follow legal principles.
Sharing Findings
Forensic psychologists in the UK are expert witnesses for the Parole board. They must do in-depth research. They study criminal conduct, risks, and progress areas.
Forensic experts must clearly share their findings to the board. They do this through expert reports. These reports need to be clear, concise. They must also be legally compliant to inform parole decisions.
How Can Concise Medico Help?
Forensic experts assess and provide testimony for Parole Board UK. Their work helps ensure that parole decisions are informed and fair. At Concise Medico we truly understand your concerns. Our solicitor can help you by:
- Preparing clients for the hearings
- Assisting them through the Parole process.
- Countering false and harmful reports about clients.
- Completing and submitting documents for the board.
- Appealing against unfavourable decisions.
If you need advice for a parole case, contact our experts. We are here to help you through the process to achieve justice.
