This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Parole Board Annual Report
01/06/2004
The 2003 Parole Board Annual Report is published today.
The Report reflects the work undertaken by the Board last
year.
Figures for the year show 345 prisoners were recommended
for parole, compared to 417 in 2002.
Key findings include:
- 706 cases were considered by the Board in 2003, up
from 697 in 2002
- The number of prisoners being released on parole
has decreased to 345 in 2003, compared to 417 in
2002
- The number of life prisoners released on licence
for the first time was 51 compared to 59 in 2002
- More prisoners opted out of consideration than
before, with 60 in this category in 2003 compared to 58
in 2002
Board Chairman Professor James J McManus said:
"The Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 marked a
further, and perhaps final, stage in the transition of the
Parole Board from an ordinary non-departmental public body
into a quasi-judicial organisation with full responsibility
for its own procedures and decisions within a framework
laid down by the Scottish Parliament and Ministers.
"With effect from mid June 2003 the Board ceased to
"advise" Ministers on the release of certain categories of
prisoner and instead "directed" such releases, and the
conditions under which the release is to take place, save
when the prisoner is subject to deportation on release. The
ending of political involvement in the release decision
making process anticipated rulings of the European Court of
Human Rights.
"Ministers retain the legal right to establish
guidelines for the operation of the Board and, of course,
continue to be responsible for appointments to the Board.
They have, however, given up all involvement in the
individual decisions of the Board.
"The Board's ultimate concern is public safety and it is
of concern that the number of determinate prisoners who had
been released on either parole or non parole licence to
serve the remainder of their sentence in the community and
who were subsequently recalled to custody has
increased.
"It is perhaps significant that the greatest increase in
recall cases occurs amongst those who have passed beyond
the two thirds stage of their sentence and who would
automatically have been released at that point. This is
clearly a matter of some concern that needs to be addressed
and the Board is, therefore, pleased to note that the issue
of automatic early release is a matter which will be
considered by the Sentencing Commission that was
established by the Justice Minister in 2003."
There will be no formal press conference. However, the
Chairman of the Board, Professor James McManus, will be
available between 10.00 hours and 14.00 hours on 1 June
2004 to respond to any queries. He will be available on
0131 244 8097.
This Report covers the period January 1 to December 31,
2003.
The Parole Board takes decisions on the release of life
prisoners and on the timing of the release on parole of
determinate sentence prisoners serving sentences of 4 years
or more.
Prisoners sentenced to four years imprisonment or more
on or after October 1, 1993, are automatically released on
licence when they have served two-thirds of the
sentence.