New Zealand
History
The New Zealand Parole Board ("the Board") was established on 30 June 2002, under the Parole Act 2002, and replaced 17 District Prison Boards and the National Parole Board. It is an independent statutory body, meaning it is not part of the Government, the Department of Corrections, Ministry of Justice, or Police.
Structure
The Board is made up of 20 Judges and 18 non-judicial members, and was chaired for many years by Judge David J. Carruthers. Members are appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Attorney-General. The Board meets in panels of three - generally two non-judicial members and a Judge as convenor - usually once each month at each of the prisons throughout New Zealand.
Under the Parole Act 2002, the Attorney-General must be satisfied members have: knowledge or understanding of the criminal justice system; the ability to make a balanced and reasonable assessment of the risk an offender may present to the community when released from detention; the ability to operate effectively with people from a range of cultures; and sensitivity to, and understanding of, the impact of crime on victims.
Every three months an extended panel of at least five Board members meets in each region to consider a number of cases involving offenders serving life sentences, preventive detention or long-term determinate sentences of more than seven years.
Read more about this topic: Parole Board
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