Prison Sentences

(asked on 6th September 2021) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to review the cases of people with Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences with a view to recommending early release wherever possible.


This question was answered on 15th September 2021

The Government keeps the operation of sentences of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) under constant review. This includes continuing to ensure that IPP prisoners, who have completed their minimum term of imprisonment, have every opportunity to progress towards safe release. By law, they are entitled to a review of their detention by the Parole Board at least once every two years. At the conclusion of any parole review which has not resulted in a release direction, an indicative date will be set for the prisoner’s next review, taking account of advice from the Parole Board as to the risk reduction work which a prisoner needs to complete in the intervening period. A planned review may be brought forward where the prisoner has made exceptional progress.

HM Prison and Probation Service are focused on reducing the risk and thereby the successful rehabilitation of IPP prisoners via an action plan which is being taken forward jointly with the Parole Board. This approach is working, with published statistics confirming the high numbers of IPP prisoners achieving a release decision each year.

Our primary responsibility is to protect the public; however, HMPPS remains committed to safely reducing the number of prisoners serving IPP sentences in custody.

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