Voices in Justice: Parole Reform in Scotland - Timescales for parole reviews - Scottish Government consultations

Timescales for parole reviews

This section seeks your views on the timelines for parole reviews. People in custody are entitled by law to be considered for parole once they have served part of their sentence - this is known as the Parole Qualifying Date (PQD).

If the Parole Board decide not to recommend release of the individual at the first review, then their case will be reconsidered at no more than:

12-month intervals for long term determinate and extended sentences, until the person in custody reaches their Earliest Date of Liberation, and
24 months for life sentences and those sentenced to an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR). The dates of the subsequent reviews will be set by the oral hearing panel and must be within 24 months.

Under current practice, when someone serving a fixed term or extended sentence of 4 years or more is denied parole, they will be reconsidered for parole within 12 months.

40. Which of the following best represents your view on this timescale?

12 months seems appropriate; there is no need for change 12 months is too frequent, the length between parole hearings should be extended 12 months is not frequent enough, the length between parole hearings should be shortened The timeframe should be flexible, and set based on the individual case, with no maximum time between opportunities to be considered for parole Other Not sure

Please explain your answer