Publication - Consultation analysis
Voices in Justice: Parole Reform in Scotland: Consultation Analysis
In 2025 a consultation was held, Voices in Justice – a consultation on parole reform in Scotland. It asked victims, people in custody, justice professionals, and the wider public for their views on the parole system. This document is the full analysis of responses.
Consultation
Annex 3: Responses to individual questions
This annex provides details of the number (n) and percentage of respondents (T) who answered each question (substantive responses only). Note that the wording of the questions in the table below is the wording used in the online questionnaire.
| Questions relating to transparency and communication | Organisations n (and % of total 23) | Individuals with no experience of custody n (and % of total 73) | Individuals with experience of custody n (and % of total 125) | Total n (and % of total 221) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1. Would you support the introduction of a definition that clearly states the purpose of parole in Scotland? | 20 (87%) | 72 (99%) | 125 (100%) | 217 (98%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 20 (87%) | 48 (66%) | 97 (78%) | 165 (75%) |
| Q2. If the purpose of parole were to be defined in Scotland, what do you feel the defined purpose should include? | 20 (87%) | 62 (85%) | 108 (86%) | 190 (86%) |
| Q3. Should the Parole Board publish full versions of its decision minutes, including detail on the reasons for the decision and the evidence which was heard at the oral hearing, in release and non-release cases? | 20 (87%) | 71 (97%) | 125 (100%) | 216 (98%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 18 (78%) | 55 (75%) | 98 (78%) | 171 (77%) |
| Q4. To what extent do you feel that information published by the Parole Board (e.g. decisions, summaries, case examples) should be anonymised / redacted? | 20 (87%) | 70 (96%) | 123 (98%) | 213 (96%) |
| Questions relating to transparency and communication | Organisations n (and % of total 23) | Individuals with no experience of custody n (and % of total 73) | Individuals with experience of custody n (and % of total 125) | Total n (and % of total 221) |
| Please explain your answer. | 20 (87%) | 47 (64%) | 101 (81%) | 168 (76%) |
| Q5. Should the Parole Board publish more detailed information about how their decisions are reached (e.g. guidance, criteria, case studies)? | 21 (91%) | 68 (93%) | 124 (99%) | 213 (96%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 19 (83%) | 44 (60%) | 81 (65%) | 144 (65%) |
| Q6. Which format do you feel is the most appropriate for victims/survivors to receive initial information about parole eligibility of the person in the case? | 17 (74%) | 70 (96%) | 123 (98%) | 210 (95%) |
| Other, please specify | 17 (74%) | 40 (55%) | 89 (71%) | 146 (66%) |
| Q7. Are there any changes you would you like to see in how much information in parole cases is shared with victims? | 15 (65%) | 53 (73%) | 109 (87%) | 177 (80%) |
| Q8. Should victims/survivors, who are registered under the VNS, have the automatic right to attend and observe oral hearings? | 18 (78%) | 70 (96%) | 121 (97%) | 209 (95%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 14 (61%) | 48 (66%) | 94 (75%) | 156 (71%) |
| Questions relating to transparency and communication | Organisations n (and % of total 23) | Individuals with no experience of custody n (and % of total 73) | Individuals with experience of custody n (and % of total 125) | Total n (and % of total 221) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q9. Should all victims/survivors – regardless of the type of sentence the person in custody is serving – have the right to request to observe a parole board oral hearing if one is held? | 18 (78%) | 68 (93%) | 122 (98%) | 208 (94%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 16 (70%) | 44 (60%) | 89 (71%) | 149 (67%) |
| Q10. Who else, if anyone, do you think should have access to parole hearings? (Select all that apply) | 17 (74%) | 58 (79%) | 124 (99%) | 199 (90%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 18 (78%) | 47 (64%) | 90 (72%) | 155 (70%) |
| Q11. Should all victims – regardless of the type of sentence the person in custody is serving – have the right to give oral representations to the Parole Board for Scotland ahead of the Parole Board considering a case? | 17 (74%) | 69 (95%) | 124 (99%) | 210 (95%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 15 (65%) | 44 (60%) | 93 (74%) | 152 (69%) |
| Q12. What information do you feel is most important for victims to receive, in order to support their understanding of, and engagement with, the parole process? | 16 (70%) | 53 (73%) | 109 (87%) | 178 (81%) |
| Questions relating to transparency and communication | Organisations n (and % of total 23) | Individuals with no experience of custody n (and % of total 73) | Individuals with experience of custody n (and % of total 125) | Total n (and % of total 221) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q13. How could digital tools (e.g. videos, podcasts, online updates) be used to improve people’s understanding and experience of the parole process? | 15 (65%) | 51 (70%) | 107 (86%) | 173 (78%) |
| Q14. Do you have any other suggestions for improving communication, transparency, or information sharing in the parole system? | 15 (65%) | 49 (67%) | 94 (75%) | 158 (71%) |
| Questions relating to parole process, licence conditions and recall | Organisations n (and % of total 23) | Individuals with no experience of custody n (and % of total 73) | Individuals with experience of custody n (and % of total 125) | Total n (and % of total 221) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q15. Do you support the introduction of a single over-arching, statutory test for release that would apply to all cases considered for release by the Parole Board? | 19 (83%) | 66 (90%) | 120 (96%) | 205 (93%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 18 (78%) | 48 (66%) | 98 (78%) | 159 (72%) |
| Questions relating to parole process, licence conditions and recall | Organisations n (and % of total 23) | Individuals with no experience of custody n (and % of total 73) | Individuals with experience of custody n (and % of total 125) | Total n (and % of total 221) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q16. Regardless of whether a single test is introduced, or the current process is retained, should the test(s) for release from custody continue to focus solely on risk, or should they be amended to also consider a person’s readiness to reintegrate into the community? | 17 (74%) | 65 (89%) | 124 (99%) | 206 (93%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 16 (70%) | 48 (66%) | 95 (76%) | 159 (72%) |
| Q17. Do you have any other views on the assessment and decision-making process around release – for example, other aims that should be reflected, improvements that could be made, or changes in how risk is considered? | 17 (74%) | 57 (64%) | 99 (79%) | 163 (74%) |
| Q18. In principle, do you support the idea of giving the Parole Board for Scotland the power to require post-release progress hearings, at which they can take action based on the person’s progress while in the community on parole? | 17 (74%) | 64 (88%) | 124 (99%) | 205 (93%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 16 (70%) | 41 (56%) | 90 (72%) | 147 (67%) |
| Questions relating to parole process, licence conditions and recall | Organisations n (and % of total 23) | Individuals with no experience of custody n (and % of total 73) | Individuals with experience of custody n (and % of total 125) | Total n (and % of total 221) |
| Q19. If progress hearings were introduced, what changes do you think the Parole Board should have the power to make, based on the person’s progress while in the community on parole? (select all that apply) | 16 (70%) | 62 (85%) | 120 (96%) | 198 (90%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 16 (70%) | 37 (51%) | 95 (76%) | 148 (67%) |
| Q20. If progress hearings were introduced, how long after someone is released on parole should the Board have the power to call a progress hearing for them? | 17 (74%) | 62 (85%) | 121 (97%) | 200 (90%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 15 (65%) | 31 (42%) | 82 (66%) | 128 (58%) |
| Q21. If progress hearings were introduced, how frequently should the Board have the power to call a progress hearing for someone on parole in the community? | 16 (70%) | 62 (85%) | 121 (97%) | 199 (90%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 15 (65%) | 34 (47%) | 80 (64%) | 129 (58%) |
| Q22. Should the law require that certain professions or expertise must always be represented on a Parole Board oral hearing panel? | 18 (78%) | 62 (85%) | 123 (98%) | 203 (92%) |
| Questions relating to parole process, licence conditions and recall | Organisations n (and % of total 23) | Individuals with no experience of custody n (and % of total 73) | Individuals with experience of custody n (and % of total 125) | Total n (and % of total 221) |
| Please explain your answer. | 15 (65%) | 37 (51%) | 89 (71%) | 141 (64%) |
| Q23. If specific professions or expertise were to be required at Parole Board oral hearings, which specific professions or expertise do you feel should be included? | 15 (65%) | 50 (68%) | 106 (85%) | 171 (77%) |
| Q24. Do you believe that there should be any further changes to the current list of factors, set out above, which may be taken into consideration by the Parole Board when making a decision on a prisoner’s release? | 15 (65%) | 51 (70%) | 106 (85%) | 172 (78%) |
| Q25. What are your views on exploring a means to develop a formal review and appeal process for parole decisions, and who could this apply to? | 17 (74%) | 64 (88%) | 123 (98%) | 204 (92%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 16 (70%) | 39 (53%) | 86 (69%) | 141 (64%) |
| Q26. Do you think that the current approach to licence conditions should be reviewed? | 16 (70%) | 61 (84%) | 121 (97%) | 198 (90%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 12 (52%) | 32 (44%) | 92 (74%) | 136 (62%) |
| Questions relating to parole process, licence conditions and recall | Organisations n (and % of total 23) | Individuals with no experience of custody n (and % of total 73) | Individuals with experience of custody n (and % of total 125) | Total n (and % of total 221) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q27. Do you feel that the language used in licence conditions (see Annex C) is clear and accessible for all people who need to understand and follow them? | 17 (74%) | 61 (84%) | 120 (96%) | 198 (90%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 15 (65%) | 40 (55%) | 80 (64%) | 135 (61%) |
| Q28. Do you feel that licence conditions are currently well designed to maximise successful rehabilitation and reintegration? | 16 (70%) | 61 (84%) | 122 (98%) | 199 (90%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 13 (57%) | 39 (53%) | 95 (76%) | 147 (67%) |
| Q29. What changes, if any, would make licence conditions more supportive of rehabilitation and reintegration in your opinion? | 15 (65%) | 46 (63%) | 109 (87%) | 170 (77%) |
| Q30. What are your views on the options currently available to the Parole Board when they consider a request for recall (warning letter, recall to custody or no action)? (select all that apply) | 16 (70%) | 61 (84%) | 118 (94%) | 195 (88%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 13 (57%) | 35 (48%) | 87 (70%) | 135 (61%) |
| Questions relating to parole process, licence conditions and recall | Organisations n (and % of total 23) | Individuals with no experience of custody n (and % of total 73) | Individuals with experience of custody n (and % of total 125) | Total n (and % of total 221) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q31. If the Board were to have more options for responding to a potential licence breach or request for recall, what should these be in your opinion? | 13 (57%) | 39 (53%) | 109 (87%) | 161 (73%) |
| Q32. Do you support enabling the Parole Board for Scotland to set a progress hearing as an additional option in cases where the Board are deciding on recall? | 16 (70%) | 61 (84%) | 119 (95%) | 196 (89%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 14 (61%) | 25 (34%) | 74 (59%) | 113 (51%) |
| Q33. If recall decisions were to be based on a wider range of factors, which specific issues should be taken into account | 14 (61%) | 38 (52%) | 111 (89%) | 163 (74%) |
| Q34. If any, what other suggestions do you have for improving the recall process in Scotland? | 13 (57%) | 34 (47%) | 96 (77%) | 143 (65%) |
| Q35. Do you feel that re-release process is effective at supporting the initial decision to recall? | 16 (70%) | 56 (77%) | 117 (94%) | 189 (86%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 12 (52%) | 24 (33%) | 68 (54%) | 104 (47%) |
| Q36. Do you believe there should be a firm timeframe set out for re-release hearings? | 16 (70%) | 60 (82%) | 122 (98%) | 198 (90%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 12 (52%) | 30 (41%) | 80 (64%) | 122 (55%) |
| Questions relating to parole process, licence conditions and recall | Organisations n (and % of total 23) | Individuals with no experience of custody n (and % of total 73) | Individuals with experience of custody n (and % of total 125) | Total n (and % of total 221) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q37. If any, what other suggestions do you have on the format and timings of the Parole Board’s re-release hearings? | 14 (61%) | 35 (48%) | 89 (71%) | 138 (62%) |
| Q38. If you have been connected to a case (or cases) where a parole hearing was deferred, do you know what was the reason for deferral? | 11 (48%) | 43 (59%) | 100 (80%) | 154 (70%) |
| Q39. Are there any changes you believe could be made to improve efficiencies and minimise deferral of Parole Board hearings? | 12 (52%) | 46 (63%) | 100 (80%) | 158 (71%) |
| Q40. Which of the following best represents your view on this timescale? | 16 (70%) | 63 (86%) | 121 (97%) | 200 (90%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 10 (43%) | 42 (58%) | 93 (74%) | 145 (66%) |
| Q41. Which of the following best represents your view on this timescale? | 16 (70%) | 59 (81%) | 122 (98%) | 197 (89%) |
| Please explain your answer. | 10 (43%) | 34 (47%) | 80 (64%) | 124 (56%) |
| Q42. If someone is denied parole, what factors do you think should be considered in determining how long it should be before that person comes before the Parole Board again? | 15 (65%) | 53 (73%) | 111 (89%) | 179 (81%) |
Contact
Email: paroleconsultation@gov.scot