The Parole Board endeavours to ensure that those prisoners who are no longer regarded as presenting a risk to the public safety during a period of parole may serve the remainder of their sentence in the community under the supervision of a social worker. It is not the responsibility of the Board to consider the questions of punishment and general deterrence. These issues are regarded as discharged, in the case of determinate sentence prisoners, when a case is referred to the Board by the Scottish Ministers and on which the judiciary has deliberated in indeterminate prisoners’ cases.

Here is an overview of the Parole Board's role:

• Statutory Powers and Functions
• The Parole Board Membership
• Determinate Sentence Prisoners
• Life Prisoners
• Extended Sentence Prisoners
• Non-Parole Licences
• The Parole Board Rules