This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6119576.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Drop in lifers released on parole | Drop in lifers released on parole |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The number of prisoners serving life sentences who have been freed on parole has fallen significantly in England and Wales, the BBC has learned. | The number of prisoners serving life sentences who have been freed on parole has fallen significantly in England and Wales, the BBC has learned. |
| Since April the Parole Board has granted release in one in nine cases - around half the rate of last year. | Since April the Parole Board has granted release in one in nine cases - around half the rate of last year. |
| The board says it has exercised greater caution after two violent offenders committed murder after being released. | The board says it has exercised greater caution after two violent offenders committed murder after being released. |
| The findings come at a time when the board is seeking to increase its independence from the government. | The findings come at a time when the board is seeking to increase its independence from the government. |
| We will be absolutely sure before we release Sir Duncan Nichol, Parole Board | We will be absolutely sure before we release Sir Duncan Nichol, Parole Board |
| Between April and September, there were 901 requests by life sentence prisoners, including murderers and rapists, to be released after serving their minimum term. | Between April and September, there were 901 requests by life sentence prisoners, including murderers and rapists, to be released after serving their minimum term. |
| Only 106 of these were granted. | Only 106 of these were granted. |
| Previously, about one in five prisoners serving life sentences were released. | Previously, about one in five prisoners serving life sentences were released. |
| Parole Board chairman Sir Duncan Nichol said his members were being more cautious after two high-profile cases in which violent offenders committed murder after being released from jail. | Parole Board chairman Sir Duncan Nichol said his members were being more cautious after two high-profile cases in which violent offenders committed murder after being released from jail. |
| "We have taken another good hard look at the violent offender who has been a 'model prisoner'," he said. | "We have taken another good hard look at the violent offender who has been a 'model prisoner'," he said. |
| "We will be absolutely sure before we release." | "We will be absolutely sure before we release." |
| Timeline: Anthony Rice Anthony Rice, 48, strangled and stabbed Naomi Bryant, 40, in August 2005Rice, who had previous convictions for indecent assault and rape, had been given a 10-year minimum term in 1989 for attempted rapeTwo parole requests were turned down before he was released in November 2004 The Parole Board said he was a "minimal risk" | |
| Figures show the proportion of fixed-sentence prisoners freed on parole has also fallen. | Figures show the proportion of fixed-sentence prisoners freed on parole has also fallen. |
| The board's annual report, which is due to be published soon, is expected to reveal the number of freed prisoners sent back to jail for breaching their conditions of release has increased sharply. | The board's annual report, which is due to be published soon, is expected to reveal the number of freed prisoners sent back to jail for breaching their conditions of release has increased sharply. |
| Sir Duncan said that Home Secretary John Reid's "exhortations" to put public protection first had also impacted on the numbers of prisoners granted release. | Sir Duncan said that Home Secretary John Reid's "exhortations" to put public protection first had also impacted on the numbers of prisoners granted release. |
| The chairman said the fairness of the Parole Board's decisions could be called into question while it continued to remain under Home Office. | The chairman said the fairness of the Parole Board's decisions could be called into question while it continued to remain under Home Office. |
| He is calling for the responsibility for his organisation to be transferred away from the government department. | He is calling for the responsibility for his organisation to be transferred away from the government department. |
| Sir Duncan's comments follow the chief inspector of probation, Andrew Bridges' criticism of the release of sex attacker Anthony Rice, who strangled and stabbed Naomi Bryant, 40, in her home in Winchester in August last year. | |
| The Parole Board concluded Rice presented only a "minimal risk". | |
| Rice killed her nine months after he was freed by the parole board, who deemed the risk to the public to be minimal. | |
| In his report in May, Mr Bridges said the prison and other officials in Hampshire, were "side-tracked by considering Rice's human rights above their duties to the public". | |
| Parole allows a prisoner to be released before they have served their full sentence, which is granted on the basis of reports by prison and probation staff. | |
| The decision to grant or refuse parole depends on the nature of a prisoner's offences, their home circumstances, their future plans for release and behaviour in prison. | |
| A prisoner can apply for parole six months before their parole eligibility date (PED). | |
| The prison will be notified immediately when the Parole Board decides on parole in the case of a prisoner serving less than fifteen years. | |
| However, in the case of a prisoner serving 15 years or more, or someone who was sentenced before 1 October 1992, the case will be referred to the Home Secretary for a decision. |