Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Accepted
Paragraph: 93
Ineffective parole process for IPP offenders creates significant barriers due to resource issues
Conclusion
Our inquiry has highlighted wider resource issues within the Probation Service and the Parole Board. We have heard about frequent delays, untrained Parole Board members, frequent changes in professionals essential to the parole process, uncertainty following a negative parole decision and issues with the probation service. For the reasons set out, we consider the parole process as it stands, and the probation service’s involvement in it, to be ineffective, and posing a significant barrier to progression for IPP offenders. There needs to be sufficient resources for the Parole Board to consider IPP cases without undue delays. The Parole Board should prioritise people serving IPPs, and provide additional training to its members in understanding the impacts of the sentence. Only trained and experienced Parole Board members should oversee IPP cases.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government details existing measures to address staffing challenges within the Probation Service and commits to reviewing current case management practices for IPP prisoners in custody and refreshing guidance on IPP Progression Panels.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
93
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
This recommendation is for the Parole Board to respond to which they have done as part of their full response to the entire report. The Parole Board have noted that altering listings may disadvantage other offenders, however they confirmed that they will undertake a review of their Listings Priority Framework with this recommendation in mind, and the Government looks forward to hearing the outcome from this.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗