Policy and guidance
The consultation on the future role and location of the Parole Board in the criminal justice system has been put on hold until the outcome of the sentencing review is known, Ministers have told the Board. Read more.
The outcome of the Spending Review 2010 is, as anticipated, a cut of around 6% a year over the next four years for the MOJ. We do not yet have a settlement figure for the Parole Board, but if we were to receive an equal share of the cut this would amount to a fall from £10.9m this year to around £8.5m in 2014/15. Read more.
The Parole Board has for some time been experiencing a delay in hearing indeterminate cases in particular. The number of lifer and IPP cases being referred to the Board increased by almost 50% last year. As at the end of October 2010 there were 1,912 IPP and lifer cases awaiting a hearing. Out of these 480 were ready and waiting for a hearing date. This backlog total has dropped from 2,500 in March 2010 following a reconciliation exercise using our new CMS database and significant progress in sitting more cases. Read more.
The Board has been formally advised that the Justice Secretary has consented to the commencement of the provisions of Section 145 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. These provisions transfer to the Parole Board the responsibility for release decisions, in the cases of those prisoners serving 15 years or more who are subject to the release provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, with effect from 2 August 2010. Read more.
Grenadier House, 99-105 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 2DX
Telephone 0845 251 2220
