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Which prison sentences a Parole Board reviews

Not all prisoners who are eligible for release have their cases reviewed by the Parole Board.

A Parole Board only reviews a case if the prisoner has:

• an indeterminate sentence (no fixed term)
• a determinate sentence (fixed term) of more than four years, given for a serious violent or sexual crime committed before 4 April 2023
• been recalled (sent back) to prison for committing another crime or breaking the licence conditions while on probation

See ‘Types of prison sentence’ and ‘What happens if you break the terms of your probation’ to find out more.

• Types of prison sentence

• What happens if you break the terms of your probation

Getting a Parole Board hearing

Depending on their sentence, the prisoner will:

• automatically be referred to the Parole Board at a certain point
• have to 'apply' for parole

A prisoner can ask their prison offender supervisor or their solicitor if they're unsure when they can apply for parole.

See 'When a prisoner may be eligible for release from prison' for information about when a prisoner may be able to leave prison.

• When a prisoner may be eligible for release

What information the Parole Board looks at

The prison puts together a file on the prisoner’s time in prison and their plans for release, and details such as:

• their offending history
• their behaviour in prison
• any courses they completed
• psychological assessments
• victim statements or personal statements

When the file is ready, the prisoner gets a chance to read it and add anything they want in writing. They can get a solicitor to help them with this.

• Where to get legal advice

How the Parole Board reviews the prisoner’s case

If the prisoner is applying for release from prison, three members of the Parole Board meet to review their case. The prisoner is not normally asked to go to this meeting.

The Parole Board discusses whether the prisoner would be a risk to the public, or is likely to commit more crime, if they are released.

The prisoner is then sent a copy of the decision.

If the prisoner is applying for release on life licence, their case is likely to be considered at a Parole Board hearing.

What happens at a Parole Board hearing

A judge or an independent Parole Board member chairs the hearing with two other board members.

There could be other people at the hearing, such as the prisoner’s:

• solicitor
• offender manager
• prison psychologist

The victim of the crime (or one of their relatives) might attend the start of the hearing to read a ‘victim personal statement’. This is a statement about how the crime has affected them, and if they want conditions attached to the prisoner’s release.

The prisoner is also asked to speak at the hearing and asked why they think they’re suitable for release.

The Parole Board then writes to the prisoner with their decision.

What happens if the prisoner gets released

If the prisoner is released, they are supervised by an offender manager and have to follow certain conditions.

These conditions can include:

• observing curfews (having to be at home at certain times)
• electronic monitoring or ‘tagging’
• exclusion orders (being banned from going to a certain place)

The prisoner will have regular meetings with their offender manager to make sure they’re meeting the conditions of their release. If they break the conditions they can be ‘recalled’ (taken back) to prison.

• Probation - what it is

What happens if the prisoner is recalled to prison

Once the prisoner has been released from prison they can still be recalled if they commit another crime or break the conditions of their licence.

After they have been recalled the Parole Board will be asked to review their case.

• What happens if you break the terms of your probation

What happens if the prisoner is not released

If the prisoner doesn't get released, their case is reviewed again within one or two years, or more quickly if they're on a short sentence.

The Parole Board will only decide to release the prisoner if they think they are not a risk to the public.