What is parole?
Parole is the system that allows a prisoner to be released before they have served their full sentence and is granted on the basis of reports by prison and probation staff. The decision to grant or not grant parole depends on the nature of a prisoner's offences, their home circumstances, their plans for release, behaviour in prison, etc.
Parole timetable
Six months before a prisoner's parole eligibility date (PED) and thereafter annually the prisoner can apply for parole. About four months before the prisoner's PED they will have the opportunity to see any reports about themselves and make written representations stating why they believe they should get parole and what they will do on release. A member of the Parole Board may interview a prisoner but this is no longer an automatic part of the parole process. About two months before the prisoner's PED a panel of Parole Board members will consider their case. They will focus primarily on the risk to the public of a further offence being committed if the prisoner were released, although they will also consider the benefits of early release under supervision.
Notification of parole
The prison will be notified immediately when the Parole Board decides on parole in the case of a prisoner serving less than fifteen years. However, in the case of a prisoner serving fifteen years or more, or someone who was sentenced before 1 October 1992 (irrespective of sentence length), the case will be referred to the Home Secretary for a decision.If the prisoner is refused parole, they may be entitled to further reviews at yearly intervals. These will depend on the length of their sentence and on the time left between their PED and NPD. This is known as the 'parole window'.
The parole answer
When a decision has been made, a notification will be sent to the prison setting out the detailed reasons for the decision and the prisoner will be given a copy.
What if parole application is unsuccessful?
There is no formal right of appeal against a parole decision but prisoners can use the complaints procedure. Apart from a straight 'yes' or 'no' in response to a parole application, prisoners may also be granted an early review or a special review. Special and early reviews will only be granted exceptionally, for example, to monitor a prisoner's progress on a drugs rehabilitation course or an employment course.
