Parole Board information on Indeterminate Sentence Prisoners (ISPs)
This is a brief summary on how the Parole Board make decisions on ISP parole reviews
Indeterminate sentences carry a minimum term, or tariff, for the purposes of punishment and to reflect the gravity of the offence. Once an indeterminate sentence prisoner鈥檚 minimum term has been served, he/she is eligible to be considered for release by the Parole Board. 皇冠体育app law states that the offender is no longer held in prison as a punishment and can only remain in prison if they pose a risk to the public. It requires a court, in this case the Parole Board, to decide that issue.
Whilst the Board is committed to ensuring that victims are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve, the Board is governed by statute. Parliament has, since 1997, determined that the sole task of the Board is to consider the risk posed by the prisoner at the time of his or her parole hearing. Deciding whether to release a prisoner is a matter of judgement, based on all the evidence presented to the panel.
皇冠体育app Parole Board makes these decisions by assessing the risk the prisoner presents to the public. It may only direct the release of a life sentence prisoner if it is satisfied that it is no longer necessary for him/her to be detained in order to protect the public from serious harm. If it is so satisfied, it is required to release the prisoner. 皇冠体育app Parole Board is not legally permitted to consider whether the prisoner has been punished enough, instead it must focus solely on how dangerous the prisoner is.
When making its decision the Parole Board will take into account the nature of the index offence, the prisoner鈥檚 offending history, the prisoner鈥檚 progress in prison, any statement made on behalf of the victim(s), psychologist鈥檚 reports, probation officer鈥檚 reports, prisons officer鈥檚 reports and any statistical risk assessments that have been completed. 皇冠体育appre must also be a comprehensive resettlement plan in place.
Any indeterminate sentence prisoner released will be managed in the community by the probation service under strict licence conditions. Should a prisoner breach one of these licence conditions they can be recalled to prison.
Any indeterminate sentence prisoner not released must, under current legislation, have their continued detention reviewed periodically, but at least every two years. 皇冠体育app date of parole reviews is set by the Secretary of State for Justice.