NCJ Number
140886
Date Published
1989
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This briefing describes the nature of parole in the United Kingdom, its administrative procedure, its development from 1968 through 1988, and restrictions imposed on the parole system in 1983.
Abstract
Parole in Great Britain is a system of early release from prison to supervision by a probation officer under specified conditions. It was introduced by the Criminal Justice Act of 1967, and the first parolees were released on April 1, 1968. Fixed Sentence inmates are eligible for parole after serving one-third of their sentence or 6 months, whichever is longer. Because inmates serving sentences of 12 months or less are normally released after serving half of their sentence, the minimum sentence or combination of sentences that will attract earlier consideration for parole is 13.5 months. Inmates serving sentences of more than 5 years for violent offenses or drug trafficking are unlikely to be granted parole. If refused parole at the first review, the inmate will be reconsidered at yearly intervals, or in some cases an earlier review will be ordered. When an inmate becomes eligible for parole, the case is first considered by the prison's local review committee, which takes into account the nature of the offense, the criminal and other history, behavior inside the prison and the response to treatment, medical considerations, the home circumstances and employment prospects upon release, and cooperation with parole supervision. Case papers together with recommendations are forwarded to the Parole Unit at the Home Office. The case is assessed under a computerized weighting system. Depending on the score, the case is either granted parole, referred to the Parole Board for further consideration, or refused parole. This briefing also discusses the work of the Parole Review Committee, which proposed reforms for parole in 1988.