Question reference: S5W-34554
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 13 January 2021
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Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 26 January 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Transforming Parole proposals allow victims to speak at parole hearings, and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.
Answer
The changes which will come into force on 1 March 2021, through the Parole Board (Scotland) Amendment Rules 2021, set out a procedure for victims and family members of victims, who are registered with the Victim Notification Scheme (VNS), to be silent observers at parole hearings with the aim of allowing increased transparency to victims.
Allowing victims to make oral representations to the Parole Board members hearing the case that victims are involved with, would require an amendment to primary legislation. The Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 permits certain victims, registered with the VNS, to make oral representations but only to a Parole Board member who is not involved with the case.