Jan 21 - Together Gibraltar Publishes Parole Reform Proposals
Together Gibraltar has published a “Four Point Proposal” to reform parole hearings in Gibraltar so that they take account of victim representations.
The party has released the following:
1. It is not enough that the Parole Board (‘the Board’) is obliged to have regard to any relevant information that may be available, which is what the current law provides for. The Board should be explicitly obliged to seek the views of victims of crime in respect of license conditions
2. There should be a legal obligation for the Board to advise victims of a crime of their right to make representations and, furthermore, to facilitate the same. For example, when a letter of advice is sent to the Minister, stating that a prisoner is eligible for parole, it should also be sent to the victims of crime and to the prisoner. The letter of advice should be delivered by a police officer, or other official trained to deal with victims, who must explain what the contents of the letter mean in a sensitive and thorough manner
3. When a judge hands down a custodial sentence, he or she must also state publicly the length of time after which the person will become eligible for release on license. This will put victims of crime on notice and allow them to prepare mentally for receipt of the letter around a particular date in the future
4. At the conclusion of a Parole Hearing, the Board must produce a summary decision for the public, explaining the rationale for whether or not release on license has been approved. Consideration should be given to whether the advice should also be made public, depending on the circumstances of the case.
The party has also written to the Minister for Justice Neil Costa arguing that "more consultation and sensitivity is owed to victims of crime and their families, when convicted criminals are due for parole."
{fcomment}
