Response 673075140

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Questions on strengthening the voice of victims in the parole process

1. Do you think victims and their families should have a greater voice in the parole process?

Please select one item
Yes
No
If Yes, what more could be done to help victims and their families be heard? If No, why not?
Formal consultations with families. Engagement at start of consideration of parole. Consideration of the impact of a person being released close to victims families and the distressing impact that will have on their lives.

2. Do you think victims and their families should be entitled to attend parole hearings in person?

Please select one item
Yes
No
If Yes, what wider considerations would be necessary to manage this process, what support should be available and who should be responsible for providing that support? If No, why not?
I think there should be a person whose role it is from the prison/parole service to involve families in these processes and be a voice for them. Also the person in that role would be support for the families.

3. Do you think there should be clear criteria on the kinds of information the Parole Board should consider in relation to the safety and welfare of victims and their families?

Please select one item
Yes
No
If Yes, in your view what should that criteria be? If No, why not?
I think families should be informed of the intention to release the perpetrator of a crime back into their area in order that they can have their say and put across their concerns/objections

4. Do you think more could be done to strengthen the Parole Board’s current use of licence conditions (including conditions to exclude individuals from certain areas, or from certain individuals)?

Please select one item
Yes
No
If Yes, what would the implications be of extending this and how could this be managed in the community? If No, why not?
I think a condition of parole should be that the criminal is not allowed within a specified distance of where the crime happened and the victims families. They should also be prohibited from contacting families or mentioning anything about the crime on social media platforms

5. Do you think that victims and their families should receive information on the reasons for the Parole Board’s decisions in their case?

Please select one item
Yes
No
If Yes, what kind of information would be most helpful and how should that be provided? If No, why not?
What was the decision based on? Good behaviour? Showing remorse? Likelihood of reoffending?

Questions on ensuring transparency

6. Should others be routinely entitled to attend parole hearings?

Please select one item
Yes
No
If Yes, who should be able to attend, in what circumstances and for what part of the proceedings? If No, why not?
I think either victims families or an elected representative should be allowed to attend parole hearings to convey the impact of the crime involved and put across their worries should the criminal be released on parole

7. Should information be routinely shared with others?

Please select one item
Yes
No
If Yes, what level of information should be shared or what more could be done? If No, why not?
I think information should be shared with victims families/their representative and anyone else who has a legitimate right to be informed

8. Do you feel that some information regarding parole decisions should be published proactively?

Please select one item
Yes
No
If Yes, what level of information do you feel should be published? If No, why not?
I think this information should be available to families and stakeholders.

9. Do you think the work of the Parole Board is sufficiently visible?

Please select one item
Yes
No
If Yes, why do you think that? If No, what more could be done?
I have heard nothing of the parole boards systems, processes or decisions

Questions on Improving Support for Decision Making

10. Do you think that consideration should be given to widening the information available to the Parole Board by establishing a function to investigate and collate information from other bodies?

Please select one item
Yes
No
If Yes, who should provide that function and in what circumstances? If No, what other options are there to improve information gathering?
A designated role should be allocated for someone to gain accounts from victims/their families, perhaps most appropriate would be a member of the parole board. A role likened to that of a police family liaison officer.

Questions on information for prisoners on the parole process

11. Do you think that prisoners currently receive the information they need to enable them to participate in the parole process?

If Yes, why do you think that? If No, what information or help do you consider should be provided to help prisoners understand the parole process and their licence conditions?
I don’t have any information to formulate an informed opinion on this question

12. Do you think that more could be done to make sure that prisoners understand their licence conditions and the consequences of breaching them?

Please select one item
Yes
No
If Yes, what do consider is the best approach to ensure prisoners understand the terms of their licence and who is best placed to provide information? If No, why not?
There should be a liaison parole officer who fully informs prisoners of their parole conditions and ensures that they know they are accountable for their actions

Questions on supervision, review and recall

13. Is there a requirement for an additional review process (at least initially)?

Please select one item
Yes
No
If Yes, who should carry out that review and what would you see as the advantages or disadvantages of an additional review? If No, why not?
I think that a parole decision should be more robust. Perhaps passing through more than one hearing to ensure that everything is converted in great detail.

14. In relation to revocation of licence and recall to custody. Do you consider social workers should be able to refer directly to the Parole Board?

Please select one item
Yes
No
If Yes, what are the implications of this change and how could this be managed? If No, why not?
I think social workers should be utilised in this manner and should be respected as professionals. A formal link should be initiated between social work and the parole board to facilitate this.

Questions on independence and governance

15. Do you agree that a transfer to the Scottish Tribunals would enhance the independence of the Parole Board?

If Yes, what do you consider the advantages and disadvantages would be with such a transfer? If No, Why not?
I don’t think parole boards should have sole independence on these decisions. I think their decisions should be reviewed by another governing body

16. A review and appeal are available in the Scottish Tribunals. Do you consider these processes should be available for the Parole Board?

Please select one item
Yes
No
If Yes, what are the benefits of having these processes available? If No, why should these processes not be made available in the case of the Parole Board?
To ensure robustness of decisions

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