Some reflections on risk assessment, parole and recall

Abstract

A few high-profile murders by released prisoners, subject to parole and life licences, have drawn governmental and public attention to the process of the parole board decision to release an offender and the quality of supervision under licence by probation areas. Reports by the Chief Inspector of Probation indicate that, in some parts of the parole process, too little attention is paid by prison and probation staff and parole board members to issues of risk of harm, static risk, instrumental violence, conditions of release and the thoroughgoing end-to-end management of prisoners. This article discusses these issues and examines some of the changes in parole responsibilities since the Criminal Justice Act 2003. In particular, it looks at the impact of recalls to custody following a breach of licence requirements and extended sentence recalls.