Success before Parole Board

We acted for Mr S, who was sentenced to a life order with a minimum tariff of 15 years in 2014. Having spent the last 12 years in imprisonment, Mr S had reached the stage for consideration by the parole board of whether he could be recategorised to Category for open conditions.

During his time of imprisonment, Mr S had made significant personal improvements through employment and education, and had even made amends with the victim of his offence, who wrote a powerful letter of support to support his recategorisation to open conditions.

 

During the hearing, security officers provided intelligence of Mr S’s alleged involvement in staff corruption, although they all confirmed that there was no evidence tying Mr S to any of the actual allegations. These allegations gave rise to serious concerns by the Panel. This initial hearing was then adjourned so that the Panel could receive further information from security officers at his current establishment.

 

Upon the resumption of the hearing, IKP argued that the intelligence was so unsubstantiated that it would be procedurally unfair for the Panel to consider them, and that no weight should be given to such allegations. IKP also submitted that the security officers had ample opportunity to present further evidence of any such allegations, and given the lack of any forthcoming evidence, the Parole Board should not consider this intelligence in their assessment of Mr S’ risk, as set out in R (Pearce) v Parole Board.  

 

The Parole Board agreed with IKP’s submissions and have made a recommendation to the Secretary of State that Mr S should be recategorised to open conditions. Should the Secretary of State agree with this recommendation, Mr S will be able to continue with his rehabilitation and risk management, ahead of his eventual parole hearing.

 

Y was represented by Daniel Cooper, Partner, and Queenie Sit, Paralegal. For more information on this story, or if you are seeking assistance with school exclusions, please contact us at DanielC@ikpsolicitors.com and QueenieS@ikpsolicitors.com.