Prisons’ Minister Paul Goggins has announced an independent review of the current Prison Service arrangements for assessing and ‘testing’ life sentence prisoners prior to their release. Life sentence prisoners in Northern Ireland are subject to a planned programme through their prison life and are assessed on a multi-disciplinary basis for the progress they are making. A period of ‘testing in the community’ is the final element prior to consideration by the Parole Commissioners for final release, on licence.

The Prison Service is primarily responsible for the management of life sentence prisoners during this ‘testing’ phase, though a range of other agencies support this work. The Minister has asked Kit Chivers, Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland, to undertake the review in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Probation Board.

Mr Goggins said; “The management of life sentence prisoners is essential for public protection and public confidence in the criminal justice system. It is right that these prisoners are subject to thorough assessment and testing before they can be considered for release.

“Life sentence prisoners who are preparing for final release come under the auspices of the Prisoner Assessment Unit in Belfast. This Unit plays a vital role in the rehabilitation process and helps to determine if such prisoners are suitable for release.

“On the day that new legislation comes into effect in relation to our most dangerous offenders, I believe that this is the right time to commence this review, in order to be sure that the arrangements are robust and effective. I am very grateful to Kit Chivers and his team for agreeing to undertake this important work.”

The review will take account of practice and developments in Great Britain, including the approach adopted in relation to the handling of cases by the Parole Board in England & Wales, and the Risk Management Authority in Scotland. It will also take account of the increasing number of life sentence prisoners in Northern Ireland and the proportion serving periods above their tariff.

The review will seek input from a range of involved agencies including the Probation Board and the Parole Commissioners It will also liaise with MASRAM in respect of those life sentence prisoners being ‘tested in the community’ who fall under these arrangements.

Speaking following the announcement Kit Chivers said; “I see this review as an important opportunity to provide the Minister and the public with an independent view of the arrangements that are currently in place. I hope the review will assist the Prison Service and other agencies in providing arrangements that will enhance public protection in Northern Ireland in the future.”



Notes to Editors

1. A tariff is the minimum period of time which a life sentence prisoner must serve before being considered for final release by the Parole Commissioners.

2. The Parole Commissioners were formally known as the Life Sentence Review Commissioners. Their new title is effective from today under the terms of the Criminal Justice Order.

3. The areas which the review is asked to explore in relation to life sentence prisoners include:

(a) the current arrangements for the assessment of risk by the Prison Service and other organisations,
(b) the assessment by the Prison Service of the considerations applying in individual cases, including where appropriate arrangements on a multi-disciplinary/multi-agency basis,
(c) the input of the Service (and other organisations) to the Parole Commissioners in relation to these issues,
(d) the constraints imposed by managing lifers within a small prison system and in a small community,
(e) the Service's policies and practices in relation to pre-release home leave and temporary release for external activities including testing in the community,
(f) the balance that is required between public protection on the one hand, and preparing an offender for resettlement in the community on the other,
(g) how the Service may better prepare for those judged unable or those who prove very hard to return to the community,
(h) although NIPS manage the processes in relation to life sentenced prisoners the contribution by PBNI to the successful management of such prisoners, attending multi-disciplinary meetings, carrying out risk assessments and assisting with monitoring in the community,
(i) the role of PSNI and voluntary agencies who provide services and assist NIPS with the process of reintegrating prisoners into the community, particularly providing accommodation or employment to life sentenced prisoners,
(j) the longer term arrangements for those released on licence,
(k) the arrangements for those life sentenced prisoners recalled to custody.

The review is scheduled to be completed by the autumn.

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