The Parole System – New challenges Event

Recent controversies have raised some fundamental questions about the parole system in England and Wales. Should its purpose be solely focussed on a prisoner’s future risk – or should it in some way reflect society’s current feelings about the original offence? Should the system be opened up to public scrutiny and if so to what extent? How should this be balanced against the need for candour from the prisoner and the need to protect the privacy of victims some of whom may fear renewed media scrutiny? What will the impact of these changes be on the most vulnerable victims and prisoners in particular?

By the time this lecture is given some of these decisions will have been taken by the courts and the Ministry of Justice. The lecture will provide one of the first opportunities for the former Chair of the Parole Board to respond to these development and describe how the Board’s future direction may take shape.