---

Parole: Life Imprisonment

Answer

All life sentence and indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP) prisoners are eligible to have their case for release on parole considered once they have served the minimum period as set down by the court. The process for considering both life sentence and IPP prisoners' parole applications is broadly the same. The independent Parole Board is responsible for determining whether it is safe to release a life sentence or IPP prisoner back into the community.Under Section 32(6) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 and Section 239(6) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, the Secretary of State for Justice has powers to set Directions to the Parole Board to guide them in their considerations. These Directions are available from the Library of the House or at:"http://www.paroleboard.gov.uk"The rules which govern the Parole Board's procedures in life sentence and IPP cases are set out in the Parole Board Rules 2004, which were amended in 2009. These rules are available also from the Library of the House or at:"http://www.paroleboard.gov.uk"Since 1 April 2009 all indeterminate sentenced prisoners' parole cases have been carried out in accordance with the generic parole process (GPP). The GPP introduced a single timetable and process for all indeterminate sentenced prisoners. The procedures, responsibilities and timescales for this process are managed under Prison Service Order 6010. This Prison Service Order is available from the Library of the House or at:"www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk"

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

501 c443W; 302849

Session

2009-10

Subjects

Parole Life imprisonment

Link

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