How do I apply to the Parole Board?
About six months before the first date at which you can be released (i.e. your PED (parole eligibility date)) the prison will give you a form. This will ask you whether you want to apply for early release. If you decide to apply, a review will start.
- The prison will put together a file of papers about you, the crimes you have committed, how you have spent your time in prison and your plans on release. This file is called the "dossier".
- When the dossier is ready, you will be given it to read and you can add on anything you want to say in writing. Your part of the dossier is called "the prisoner's representations". Many prisoners ask their solicitor to help them.
- When everything is in the dossier, three members of the Parole Board (often called "the panel") will meet to discuss your application for release. The Parole Board is not part of the Prison Service or the Ministry of Justice and makes its own decisions. The panel will be looking at how high they think the risk is that you might commit offences on licence, and whether it is best for you and the public for you to be released.
This is a timetable for your application and shows you what you can expect to happen and when.
- Week 26 - IIS (Inmate Information System) prompts Parole Clerk to issue application to prisoner.
- Week 25 - Parole Clerk requests parole reports and updates IIS.
- Week 17 - All reports, including PAR (parole assessment report), received. Dossier is complete. Dossier & Reps/Disclosure form provided to prisoner. Update IIS.
- Week 13 - Reps/Disclosure form received from prisoner. Dossier checked & signed off by Governor.
- Week 12 - Deadline for dossier to be received by Parole Board Secretariat.
- Week 7 - Dossier considered by Panel.
- Week 6 - Parole Board decision issued (See below)
- Decision - Parole Awarded/Refused/Deferred
- Week 6 - Receive notice of parole decision. Notify prisoner & probation.
- Weeks 3 to 2 - If applicable, check release arrangements in place with Probation.
- Week 1- If applicable, prepare release licence.
- Week 0 - If applicable, release at PED (parole eligibility date) or if anniversary, at earliest opportunity.
- PED or Anniversary
The Parole Board. Working with others to protect the public.