Parole Board for Scotland
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.
Logo of the Parole Board for Scotland | |
| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | 1967 |
| Type | tribunal non-departmental public body |
| Jurisdiction | Scotland |
| Headquarters | Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh, EH11 3XD 55.93489°N 3.18291°W |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executives |
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| Parent department | Justice Directorate of the Scottish Government |
| Key document |
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| Website | www |
| Map | |
Scotland in the UK and Europe | |
| Part of a series on |
| Scots law |
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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.