Parole Board

(1) The Role of the Parole Board
(2) About Parole
(3) What you can expect from the Parole Board
(4) If we do not meet your expectations
(5) Where to contact us

The Parole Board is an independent body that was established in July 2021 under the Parole Act 2019. It replaces the former non-statutory Interim Parole Board.

The Parole Board is statutorily independent in its decision making. It currently considers applications for parole from prisoners serving life sentences and decides whether or not they should be released on parole. By law, a person must have served at least 12 years of their life sentence before they can be granted parole.

An independent Parole Board that protects the community, is fair to parole applicants, and listens to victims.

Parole involves release from prison under certain conditions.

If granted parole, the person must follow all the conditions of their parole order. They are still serving a life sentence, but in the community. The person may be returned to prison if they re-offend or break any of the conditions of the parole order.

When deciding on an application, the Parole Board considers many factors including:

• the risk to the public;
• the rehabilitation of the applicant;
• whether it is appropriate they be released on parole.

By law, a person must have served at least 12 years of their life sentence before the Board can grant or refuse a parole application.

When a person makes an application for parole, the Board may write to the relevant services and request reports relating to the applicant from the Irish Prison Service, the Irish Prison Service Psychology Service, the Probation Service, An Garda Síochána, a psychiatrist, a psychologist and any other source which the Board deems appropriate in the case.

The steps involved for the victim in the parole process are:

• Registering with the Parole Board by completing the registration form available at the Parole Board website www.gov.ie/paroleboard
• The Parole Board will then contact victims to ask them if they wish to make a submission in relation to the person who has applied to the Board to have their sentence reviewed. A victim may decide not to make a submission to the Parole Board. The Board understands that this does not mean they were unaffected by the crime
• The Parole Board will guide victims through the process of making a submission if they choose to do so
• Submissions can be made in person or in writing and the Parole Board is committed to doing its best to facilitate victims in making their submissions at a time, place and in a format that suits the victim concerned
• The Parole Board has a Legal Aid Scheme in place and victims can avail of free legal aid to assist in making their submission. It’s important for victims to be aware that that victim submissions are provided to the parole applicant as part of the parole review process. The Parole Board’s office can arrange legal aid for you or you can choose your own legal representative. However, the Board will only pay the legal representative the rates specified under its Legal Aid Scheme
• If they wish, victims can be made aware of the outcome once the Board has made its decision on the parole application.

If the person serving the sentence has not yet applied for parole or has not yet served the minimum time that allows them to apply, a victim can still register with the Parole Board and we will make contact if and when they apply.

If we do not meet your expectations and you would like to ask questions, make suggestions or make a complaint about our service, you can contact us at the details below.

Address: Suite 401, The Capel Building, Mary’s Abbey, Dublin 7 D07 N4C6
Tel: 003531 474 8770 or 00353 1474 8767
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website: www.gov.ie/paroleboard