Parole for children and young people

How does the Parole Board make its decision?

The decision about your release will be made once the three members at the Parole Board who will make the decision have read a file of information about you and, if necessary, have held an oral hearing.

The members of staff in your unit or on your wing will put together a file of papers about you, the crimes you have committed, how you have spent your time in custody and your plans on release. This file is called the dossier.

What is in my dossier?

There will be reports about your offence and previous convictions. This may include any reports written for your sentence, reports on your behaviour and progress in custody, a copy of what the judge said when you were sentenced and anything else that may help the Parole Board reach a decision. The dossier can include reports from your YOT worker, staff at the prison or the unit, reports and assessments from your social worker if you have one and any information about any sanctions or adjudications you might have had in prison. The dossier may also include information about how the victim feels about you
being released. There is also a space in the dossier for you to add your own views.

Is anything in the dossier kept secret?

In almost every case, you will see everything in the dossier that will be sent the Parole Board. But sometimes there are things that you will not be able to see. This is rare but can happen. Papers that can be kept from you might include a victims statement or a security report.

What is the Parole Board looking for?

The people who decide if you are ready to come out will read the dossier very carefully. They will be looking for evidence of whether you are likely to commit more crimes if they let you out.

Some of the things that the Parole Board will think about when looking at the papers include:

1. Is it likely that you will commit another offence if they let you out? This is the most difficult question and the most important. The Parole Board will want to be confident that you have changed and that your circumstances have changed so you will not continue offending.
2. Is it likely that you will comply with the rules on your licence? If you do get parole, it will be on licence. If you have breached orders or licences in the past, this may be seen as evidence that you might break the rules of your licence.
3. How much work you have done to reduce your risk by doing offending behaviour packs and courses? This will be important in showing the board that you have really changed and understand why you did what you did and why you will not do it again.
4. Have you been well behaved in custody? If you have had adjudications, sometimes called nickings or sanctions while in prison, they may be seen as evidence that you would commit another offence if let out of prison.
5. How much has your attitude changed about your offending? The Board will be interested in your views on your offence and the feelings about any victims.
6. Where will you be living when you come out and will you be able to make a fresh start there? When you are under 18 you have less control over your home life and where you live. The Board may want to know that you are living in a different way to how you were living at the time you committed your offence or at least that you will be living in a safe and stable place where you are less likely to offend again.
7. Do you have a good relationship with your YOT worker? If you are released it will be on licence and this means that you will need to work with your YOT for a long time (and possibly a probation officer the YOT for adults if you turn 18 while on licence). It will be important for the Parole Board to know that you will work with the
   YOT on release.
8. What is the attitude of the local community where you live? This may be important if the crime you committed caused a lot of upset in the local community. If people are still upset about it when you come out of custody, it may make it harder for you to live a crime free life on release if you go back to the area. The views of the victim may also be important.

There are other things that the Board may consider. Your solicitor can go through them with you and write down your views on them so that the Parole Board has a chance to see what you think.

The decision process

Three members of the Parole Board (often called the panel) will meet to discuss your application for release. They will either do this by looking at the file without meeting you or they will come to the prison and hold a hearing.

If the Parole Board decides there should be an oral hearing, it will write to you and tell you the date the hearing will take place. On the day of your hearing, up to three members of the Parole Board will come to your unit. You will have your solicitor with you. The panel will probably want to ask you some questions, and there might be someone from the Government (from a department called the Post Release Section (PRS)) there who may also ask you questions. There might also be witnesses present such as your YOT worker or your social worker (if you have one). Any witnesses may be asked questions by your solicitor, the panel and the person from PRS. You can ask for extra witnesses to come if you think they will help the panel to come to a decision.

The hearing is a bit like a court hearing but you do not have to take an oath and no one will wear wigs or gowns. The panel will try their best to make you relaxed and comfortable. The members can ask you questions at any time.

Either way, the panel will be looking at whether they think you might commit offences on licence, whether you will keep the conditions of your licence, and whether it is best for you and the public for you to be released.

How do I find out if I have got parole?

Once the Parole Board has made a decision, you will get a letter telling you the result. You should receive the letter within seven days of the hearing or the date on which the panel met to decide your case. Every decision is in a letter with full reasons given.

If I get parole, how long will it be before I am actually released?

Once you have the Parole Board decision, it will be up to your unit, your YOT worker and the Youth Justice Board or the prison to make sure the release plans are in place and to prepare your licence. You cannot be released until your licence is prepared. This usually takes a few days.

The Parole Board for England and Wales

Grenadier House, 99-105 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 2DX

Telephone 0845 251 2220