On 20 January JUSTICE published their report on A Parole System fit for Purpose, chaired by the Faculty's Professor Nicky Padfield. A working party was appointed in April 2021 to coincide with the Government’s 'Root and Branch of Review of parole', which was expected to report in the summer. But the Government’s review has still not been published and so it is hoped that this Report can feed usefully into the Government’s thinking.
The JUSTICE Report was the result of the work of 13 experts with a wide range of experience of parole processes (including Parole Board members and those with experience as prisoners).
The Report recommends re-positioning the Parole Board as a Tribunal, properly funded and with effective powers. But it also looks more widely at parole processes: a central theme of the Report is the need for effective rehabilitation; a concern is the number of people in prison who have been released but then recalled. In September this was 9,254 prisoners. The Report recommends a new recall process.
Nicky says:
"I know of no other country where the executive, not the judiciary, recalls people to prison in such numbers. It was both a pleasure and a huge challenge to chair this project. For too long, policy makers have not afforded the parole process the attention it deserves in order to be truly fit for purpose.
For too long, policy makers have not afforded the parole process the attention it deserves in order to be truly fit for purpose Professor Nicky Padfield
Too many individuals remain in prison unnecessarily, and those who are released are too often denied access to the tools they need to succeed when reintegrating into the community. This must change. I hope that this Report will prove really useful to those who are committed to improving the system of conditional release and re-release from prison - improving it for prisoners, victims, society, and the rule of law".