This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Parole Board for Scotland
09/09/2005
The new Chair of the Parole Board for Scotland is to be Professor Alexander Cameron who is currently the Executive Director of Social Work for South Lanarkshire Council.
Prof Cameron has been a member of the Executive's Criminal Justice Forum and as a Director of Social Work he has had responsibility for services to the criminal justice system in the Borders and South Lanarkshire.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said:
"I am delighted to announce Professor Cameron's appointment as Chair of the Parole Board for Scotland.
"The Parole Board's contribution to public safety can never be overstated. It is a key player in our criminal justice system. It must ensure that its decisions do not compromise public safety while also respecting the rights of those whose liberty is at stake.
"Professor Cameron brings an extensive knowledge and practical experience of the Scottish criminal justice system to the Board. He will be able to draw on his experience of risk assessment and management of offenders and the ability to balance their rights against the need for public protection."
The appointment is for six years and will run from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2012. This post is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £33,415 for a time commitment of 100 days per year.
The Parole Board is a key element of Scotland's criminal justice system. It has a number of statutory functions. It decides on the suitability for early release on licence of long term offenders (those sentenced to imprisonment for four years or more) to serve the remaining part of their sentence in the community - subject to certain statutory requirements.
Certain young people sentenced on indictment and placed in secure accommodation are also eligible to be considered for parole.
The Board also has the power to direct the release of life prisoners who have served the punishment part of their sentence if it is satisfied that the prisoner no longer requires to be confined for the protection of the public.
This Ministerial public appointment was made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Professor Cameron declared that he has not been involved in any political activity within the last five years.
Prof Cameron is also a Non-Executive Director on the State Hospital Board for Scotland.
Prof Cameron will replace Professor James McManus, whose term of office expires on 31 December 2005. Prof Cameron will retire from South Lanarkshire Council at the end of March 2006.
He will be released by the Council to undertake Parole Board duties as necessary during this period with an appropriate adjustment to his salary.
The Chair is also a member of the Board. Membership of the Parole Board involves attending regular casework meetings and visiting penal establishments for the most part in order to interview prisoners eligible for consideration of release on parole or on life licence and to hold oral hearings for recalled determinate sentence prisoners. In addition to these duties, as Chair, Professor Cameron will be responsible for the strategic development of the Board's management.