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Violent Sex Offenders

Answer

[holding answer 19 October 2006]: Under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 implemented in April 2005, dangerous violent or sexual offenders must be sentenced either to an extended sentence for public protection (EPP) or an indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP). Offenders serving an EPP can be considered for release by the Parole Board at the half-way point of the custodial element of the sentence. Offenders serving an IPP can apply to be released once they have served the minimum term set by the court.For an offender to be released in either of these circumstances, the Parole Board must be convinced that the risk of re-offending and the risk to the public has been sufficiently reduced. In the case of IPP sentences the offender may never be released from custody if the risk to the public cannot be managed safely in the community.Prisoners whose offences are committed before 4 April 2005 are sentenced under the provisions of the previous legislation (Criminal Justice Act 1991). Those sentenced to a determinate prison sentence of four years or more are eligible for parole at the half way point of their sentence and will be released only if the Parole Board considers that safe. If not released at this point, they must be released at the two thirds point of their sentence and remain on licence until the three quarter point. They remain at risk of recall if they commit a further imprisonable offence during the remainder of the sentence.Under the statutory Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) introduced in April 2001, offenders who are assessed as posing a high risk of harm to others after release from a determinate sentence undergo a more comprehensive risk assessment and more robust risk management planning and implementation. MAPPA allow relevant offenders to be identified, information to be shared and risk assessments and action plans to be agreed. Work within MAPPA may result in, for example, increased police monitoring, special provision for victim protection, the provision of information to employers, providers of children's services, close supervision and appropriate accommodation. All sex and other violent offenders are liable to be monitored and the level of supervision will depend upon the assessed level of risk posed by the offender, following the principle that resources follow risk.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

95224; 451 c1701-2W;451 c1704-5W

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Parole Prisoners Sexual offences

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk