A Parole System Fit For Purpose
Probation Questionnaire

JUSTICE is an all-party law reform and human rights organisation working to strengthen the justice system. It is the UK section of the International Commission of Jurists. Our vision is of fair, accessible and efficient legal processes in which the individual’s rights are protected and which reflect the country’s international reputation for upholding and promoting the rule of law.

In April 2021, JUSTICE set up a Working Party to examine the role, powers, and procedures of the Parole Board and the broader parole system of England and Wales. It will consider whether the Parole Board’s decision-making processes are fit-for-purpose and fair. The review will place particular focus on groups overrepresented throughout the criminal justice system and those who face particular challenges in participating. It will make practical recommendations aiming to ensure that those involved in the parole process are not detained for longer than is necessary and lawful.

The JUSTICE Working Party will use the information from this questionnaire to help reach ideas for reform of the Parole Board and system of England and Wales. A report on its findings will be published at the end of 2021 and will be available at www.justice.org.uk. If you would like a copy of the report, please contact JUSTICE through the details below.

This questionnaire is aimed at current and former employees of the probation service of England and Wales who have worked, or currently work, with offenders involved in the parole process. It is particularly aimed at Community Offender Managers. We should be grateful for your response to the questions below. You may also respond in bullet point form if you wish. If you have any questions, please contact Tyrone Steele, Criminal Justice Lawyer, JUSTICE at tsteele@justice.org.uk for more information.

The information you provide will be held strictly confidentially and in accordance with JUSTICE’s data protection policies.

You are welcome to respond to this questionnaire anonymously. If you would like to provide your name and contact details, they will be used only by the JUSTICE staff in conjunction with this project and will not be shared further without your written consent. If you do provide your contact details, we may contact you to discuss your answers further in order to better inform our work.

We anticipate this survey will take roughly 10 minutes of your time. We would appreciate any responses as soon as possible, and in any event by 31 July 2021.

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* 1. Are you happy to be contacted confidentially? If yes, please provide your name and contact details.

Full Name

Email Address

Phone Number

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* 2. What would you say are the main challenges you face when supervising someone:

a. while preparing for a parole review

b. after they have been released on licence after a parole review

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* 3.
With respect to the parole process (e.g., in preparing for a parole review, the preparation of dossiers, requests for licence conditions, the monitoring of licence conditions, etc), how would you describe the way you work with:

a. The Prison Service?

b. The Public Protection Casework Section (PPCS)?

c. The Parole Board?

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* 4. With respect to question 3 above, please tell us about any issues you face while working with these organisations.

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* 5. Do you think there are any problems with the preparation of parole dossiers? How could these be made more streamlined/straightforward?

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* 6. Do you think that the content of OASys reports is currently presented effectively? If not, how could they be improved?

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* 7. Do you consider that the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) currently work effectively in bringing together relevant organisations when managing an individual on license? Do you have any suggestions for these arrangements to be made more effective?

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* 8. Do you think additional support or resources are necessary to manage an individual on license? If so, what do you think would be helpful?

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* 9. Do you feel that you have received adequate training for when you exercise your power to recall?  If you think more training or support is needed, please specify what this might be.

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* 10. Is there a test that you need to use in order to decide whether to recall someone? Do you think existing powers are sufficient? Is it too easy / difficult to recall an individual?

A Parole System Fit For PurposeProbation Questionnaire

Question Title

* 1. Are you happy to be contacted confidentially? If yes, please provide your name and contact details.

Question Title

* 2. What would you say are the main challenges you face when supervising someone:

Question Title

* 3. With respect to the parole process (e.g., in preparing for a parole review, the preparation of dossiers, requests for licence conditions, the monitoring of licence conditions, etc), how would you describe the way you work with:

Question Title

* 4. With respect to question 3 above, please tell us about any issues you face while working with these organisations.

Question Title

* 5. Do you think there are any problems with the preparation of parole dossiers? How could these be made more streamlined/straightforward?

Question Title

* 6. Do you think that the content of OASys reports is currently presented effectively? If not, how could they be improved?

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* 7. Do you consider that the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) currently work effectively in bringing together relevant organisations when managing an individual on license? Do you have any suggestions for these arrangements to be made more effective?

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* 8. Do you think additional support or resources are necessary to manage an individual on license? If so, what do you think would be helpful?

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* 9. Do you feel that you have received adequate training for when you exercise your power to recall? If you think more training or support is needed, please specify what this might be.

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* 10. Is there a test that you need to use in order to decide whether to recall someone? Do you think existing powers are sufficient? Is it too easy / difficult to recall an individual?

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* 11. Do you have any other comments to make about your role as it relates to the parole process, or more generally?

A Parole System Fit For Purpose
Probation Questionnaire

* 3.
With respect to the parole process (e.g., in preparing for a parole review, the preparation of dossiers, requests for licence conditions, the monitoring of licence conditions, etc), how would you describe the way you work with:

* 9. Do you feel that you have received adequate training for when you exercise your power to recall?  If you think more training or support is needed, please specify what this might be.