This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Parole Board Annual Report
01/06/2004
The 2003 Parole Board Annual Report is published today. The Report reflects the work undertaken by the Board last year.
Figures for the year show 345 prisoners were recommended for parole, compared to 417 in 2002.
Key findings include:
- 706 cases were considered by the Board in 2003, up from 697 in 2002
- The number of prisoners being released on parole has decreased to 345 in 2003, compared to 417 in 2002
- The number of life prisoners released on licence for the first time was 51 compared to 59 in 2002
- More prisoners opted out of consideration than before, with 60 in this category in 2003 compared to 58 in 2002
Board Chairman Professor James J McManus said:
"The Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 marked a further, and perhaps final, stage in the transition of the Parole Board from an ordinary non-departmental public body into a quasi-judicial organisation with full responsibility for its own procedures and decisions within a framework laid down by the Scottish Parliament and Ministers.
"With effect from mid June 2003 the Board ceased to "advise" Ministers on the release of certain categories of prisoner and instead "directed" such releases, and the conditions under which the release is to take place, save when the prisoner is subject to deportation on release. The ending of political involvement in the release decision making process anticipated rulings of the European Court of Human Rights.
"Ministers retain the legal right to establish guidelines for the operation of the Board and, of course, continue to be responsible for appointments to the Board. They have, however, given up all involvement in the individual decisions of the Board.
"The Board's ultimate concern is public safety and it is of concern that the number of determinate prisoners who had been released on either parole or non parole licence to serve the remainder of their sentence in the community and who were subsequently recalled to custody has increased.
"It is perhaps significant that the greatest increase in recall cases occurs amongst those who have passed beyond the two thirds stage of their sentence and who would automatically have been released at that point. This is clearly a matter of some concern that needs to be addressed and the Board is, therefore, pleased to note that the issue of automatic early release is a matter which will be considered by the Sentencing Commission that was established by the Justice Minister in 2003."
There will be no formal press conference. However, the Chairman of the Board, Professor James McManus, will be available between 10.00 hours and 14.00 hours on 1 June 2004 to respond to any queries. He will be available on 0131 244 8097.
This Report covers the period January 1 to December 31, 2003.
The Parole Board takes decisions on the release of life prisoners and on the timing of the release on parole of determinate sentence prisoners serving sentences of 4 years or more.
Prisoners sentenced to four years imprisonment or more on or after October 1, 1993, are automatically released on licence when they have served two-thirds of the sentence.