The Parole Board. Working with others to protect the public.
Prisoners and families
You can apply from up to six months before you can first be released. When this is will depend upon what sentence you were given when you were convicted. The earliest date will be at the half-way point of your sentence. You can ask a member of staff or your solicitor for advice.
Six months before you can first be released you should be given a form asking whether you want to apply for parole. If you do want to apply for release then you will need to fill in this form and hand it in. If you need help to do this ask a member of staff.
The unit will then put together a file on you, how you have spent your time since trial and your plans for release. When this file is ready you will get a chance to read it and add anything you want to it in writing. Most people get a solicitor to help them with this.
When your file is ready, a panel of the Parole Board will meet to discuss your case. You will not be asked to attend this meeting. The Parole Board is not part of the Prison Service and will make its own decision. 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.
If the panel decides to release you they will write to you. If they feel they want to ask you questions they will invite you to meet with them in person to discuss your case. You can also have your solicitor present at this meeting, and there may be other witnesses including your Offender Manager and possibly your prison psychologist.
It can take up to six months from the time when you first apply for the Parole Board panel to get all the right information and meet to decide your case. Once a decision has been made you will be told within a few days.
The Parole Board will write to you in prison with their decision and with the reasons for it. If you are unhappy with any of the reasons then you should talk to your solicitor to see if you can challenge any of them.
You will normally be reviewed once a year.
You can ask a member of staff for help and you should also get advice from your solicitor.
Your first review for release will start up to six months before you can first be released, or up to three years if you are a lifer or an HMP prisoner. When this is will depend upon what sentence you were given when you were convicted. The earliest date will be at the half-way point of your sentence. You can ask a member of staff or your solicitor for advice.
The unit will then put together a file on you, how you have progressed since trial and your plans for release. When this file is ready you will get a chance to read it and add anything you want to it in writing. You should get a solicitor to help you with this.
When your file is ready, three members of the Parole Board will normally meet with you to discuss your case. You can also have your solicitor present at this meeting, and there may be other witnesses for example your Offender Manager and possibly your prison psychologist. The Parole Board is not part of the Prison Service and will make its own decision. The panel will be looking at how high they think the risk is that you might commit offences on licence.
It can take up to six months from the time when you first apply for the Parole Board panel to get all the right information and meet to decide your case. Once a decision has been made you will be told within a few days.
The Parole Board will write to you in prison with their decision and with the reasons for it. If you are unhappy with any of the reasons then you should talk to your solicitor to see if you can challenge any of them.
You will be reviewed at a time decided by the Secretary of State. It cannot be longer than two years without you agreeing.
You can ask a member of staff for help and you can also get advice from your solicitor.
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Telephone 0845 251 2220