In the light of certain recent cases Aibu to ask how people are recruited for parole boards? And if we should change this?

[Graphista]

I've tried finding information on who decides who sits on parole boards, what the criteria is for the job is what qualifications and experience is required...

I cannot find this information. Surely this information should be easy to find for any of us. We have a right to know how this job is filled.

I'd also like to know what information they have access to and what information and resources they don't have access to or are not allowed to include in their decision making.

I'll be honest I'm sick of seeing murderers, rapists, paedophiles and wife batterers (some of whom have killed/attempted to kill more than one wife/partner) freed when frankly they should be serving full life sentences.

I'd far rather see non violent offenders given alternative sentencing to imprisonment so that the prisons have spaces for the violent ones.

I think parole boards actions need to be made more public more transparent, the reasons for their decisions made so and possibly sanctions for if they get it wrong and where it's clear they ignored vital information.

Enough is enough.

We deserve a justice system that keeps innocent people safe and has that as its primary focus.

Recruitment info here

Sorry this one is more helpful

Parole Board Criteria

Yes that's all I could find. It's extremely vague and gives no indication of how applicants are filtered aside from things like they can't be MPs or have recently served a longer than 3 month sentence themselves.

I actually think ex prisoners could make excellent parole board members! They'd see through the bullshit!

I think ex prisoners can be. Just not for 5 years after being released.

Yes they can after 5 years. Hardly encouraged though I don't think.

Otherwise as I said it's very vague. The skills criteria could apply to most office jobs for crying out loud!

Also where advertised limits who applies.

As a result of recent events, there's been a new head of the Parole Baord since September -

www.gov.uk/government/news/new-chair-of-the-parole-board-announced

I heard of a recent interview in which she express surprise and concern about the lack of diversity on the parole board.

The role requires one to devote the equivalent of 2.5 days a week with no guarantee of work. This is no doubt a limiting factor in terms of who can take the risk of a variable income and can travel as required.
Looks as if it needs to be re-organised ASAP.

Wow! The head of the parole board with apparently very little knowledge/experience in the criminal justice system, ex city bod & children's author!

No wonder we've got problems in this area!

Why on earth isn't it someone with more experience in relevant areas?

The head of the parole board with apparently very little knowledge/experience in the criminal justice system, ex city bod & children's author!
Not very fair on her - she has experience on the board of London Parole Board since 2007 and as a non-exec at CAFCASS and the Criminal cases review commission.

(and I am normally the last to stick up for people who look like life long apparatchiks)

Still not nearly enough or relevant enough experience in my opinion for the HEAD of the parole board.

She is talking a good story about trying to recruit from a wider pool -

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46143909