The Governance and Operation of the Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland

The role of the Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland

The role of the PCNI is to decide whether prisoners are ready to be released from custody, they need to be kept in prison for longer or need to be recalled back to prison. Their role is essential to public safety, as parole decisions will determine when it is appropriate for a prisoner to rejoin the community.

The PCNI require accurate, timely information from those who work directly with prisoners, as well as from the prisoners themselves.  This data is critical in assessing the risk of reoffending and determining whether a prisoner is ready to be released from custody..
The Commissioners also rely heavily on administrative and support services from the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) and need sufficient resources and policy direction from the Department of Justice (DoJ).

Key Findings of the Inspection

While the Parole Commissioners have managed an increasing caseload without the backlogs seen in England and Wales, the report revealed that their current oversight arrangements are insufficient regardless of the positive working relationships between PCNI, the DoJ and the NICTS.

The report highlighted that Parole Commissioners’ fees and terms have remained the same for a decade, which may discourage qualified individuals from seeking or continuing the role.  This has an impact on the delivery of an effective parole system, which requires a pool of Parole Commissioners with the required expertise to deliver efficient outcomes.

Strategic and operational gaps

The inspection found that there was no strategic vision, ownership or accountability within the parole system and it wasn’t clear how the bodies with oversight of the PCNI ensured it was fulfilling its responsibilities.

Additionally, there was an absence of data to evidence outcomes of the parole process, which is crucial for assessing its effectiveness.

Challenges in parole decisions

The report highlighted that the proportion of decisions made to release prisoners from custody had declined and the number of prisoners released and then recalled was a concern, especially given the size of the prison population and pressures on accommodation and resources.

Recommendations for improvement

To address these issues, Inspectors made two Strategic and four Operational recommendations.  Inspectors have recommended that the DoJ should review the status of the PCNI and improve its governance and oversight.  This would involve adopting best practices while maintaining the operational independence of the Commissioners.

The Inspection Team also highlighted the need for the DoJ to work with representatives of the PCNI, the NICTS, the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) and the Probation Board for Northern Ireland to measure and evidence the outcomes of the end-to end parole process to ensure an effective and efficient service.

Conclusion

While the PCNI plays a crucial role in Northern Ireland’s criminal justice system, the entire parole process requires better governance, strategic direction and collaboration among key criminal justice organisations.  The implementation of the recommendations made in this report would support a more cohesive and effective parole system to ensure prisoners are adequately prepared for release and as a community, we are kept safe when they are released.