Parole Board for Scotland

Parole Board for Scotland
Logo of the Parole Board for Scotland
Agency overview
Formed1967; 57 years ago (1967)
Typetribunal non-departmental public body
JurisdictionScotland
HeadquartersSaughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh, EH11 3XD
55°56′06″N 3°10′58″W / 55.93489°N 3.18291°W / 55.93489; -3.18291
Minister responsible
Agency executives
  • John Watt, Chairman
  • Colin Spivey, Chief Executive
Parent departmentJustice Directorate of the Scottish Government
Key document
  • Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989
Websitewww.scottishparoleboard.scot
Map
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Scotland in the UK and Europe

The Parole Board for Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Bòrd Cead-saoraidh na h-Alba) is a tribunal non-departmental public body in Scotland first established in 1967, with responsibility for parole decisions. Its decision making and operating are independent of the Scottish Government, and many of its decisions are binding on Scottish Ministers. The Parole Board has statutory powers to:

  • Recommend the release of prisoners with determinate sentences or extended sentences of 4 years or more (with licence where required);
  • Direct the release of prisoners with life sentences on life licence;
  • Recommend the conditions to be attached to prisoners' non-parole licences;
  • Recommend the recall to prison, in the public interest, of anyone released on parole, non-parole or life licence;
  • Direct the re-release of prisoners recalled to prison.

The Parole Board also has the power to advise the Scottish Ministers on additional conditions on prisoners' release licences, and it operates as appellate body for alleged breaches of Home Detention Curfew. The Parole Board can only make a determination where the Scottish Ministers refer a case.

John Watt is the current chairman having been appointed to that position on 1 January 2013.