Parole Board for Scotland

2012 News

 
Annual Report 2011/2012
December 18, 2012

The Parole Board for Scotland Annual Report 2011-12 was published today.

The report shows, among other things, that out of 607 prisoner cases referred to the Board, 219 (or 36 per cent) were recommended for release on parole.

The number of life sentence prisoners released on licence in circumstances where a Tribunal of the Board was satisfied that it was no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the prisoner should be confined was 43.

The number of prisoners who were granted parole and then subsequently referred back to the Board for consideration for recall to custody was 36. Of those, 25 were recalled to custody. Those recalled on non parole licence was 81.

The number of determinate sentence prisoners who opted out of consideration by the Board was 71 - a very slight increase from 2010/2011.

Chairman of the Board Sandy Cameron CBE said: “This will be the last annual report which I present as my term of office concludes this month. The seven years in which I have had the privilege of chairing the board have been challenging and rewarding and, thanks to the collegiate spirit within the board, very enjoyable.

“This year’s report shows that the board’s work is at similar levels to that of previous years. It also shows the significant reduction in cases referred to the board for consideration of breaches of licence conditions for both parole and non-parole licensees.

“Whilst the board routinely deals with the worst behaviour our communities experience, it also has an opportunity to observe the very real progress some prisoners make through their time in custody thanks to the opportunities they are given to learn skills and to understand what motivates their offending behaviour. Many of these prisoners are able to return to a crime free life and to begin to be positively contributing members of society. Regrettably
of course many are not able to make the necessary change or to sustain change
often because of their own disadvantaged history. In these cases it is the board’s responsibility to ensure that every possible step is taken to limit risk. I do believe that Scotland’s communities can feel assured that their best interests underpin the decisions which the board takes day in and day out but always with great care.

“I would like this opportunity to extend my best wishes to my successor John Watt.”

Background

The Annual Report is available on the Board’s Website (www.scottishparoleboard.gov.uk)

The Parole Board takes decisions on the release of life sentence prisoners and on the timing of the release on parole of determinate sentence prisoners serving sentences of four years or more.

Prisoners sentenced to four years’ imprisonment or more on or after October 1, 1993 are automatically released from custody when they have served two-thirds of the sentence.

 
New Chairman

John Watt has been appointed the new Chair of the Parole Board for Scotland by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.

Scottish Government Press Release