Practice guidance for considering whether to hold an oral hearing

Following the Court of Appeal judgment in the case of R oao Osborn & Booth [2010] EWCA Civ 1409, the Parole Board issues the following practice guidance on the consideration of the necessity of or suitability for oral hearings to assist both members in making their decisions and Parole Board users in making their requests for oral hearings.

Entitlements to oral hearings

There is no entitlement by right to an oral hearing before the Parole Board for any other case than life or indeterminate sentenced prisoners who are assessed as not unsuitable for release, or life or indeterminate sentenced prisoners at first review following recall. For all other cases, the Parole Board may decide of its own volition that a case requires consideration by an oral panel, or may consider an offenders request for an oral hearing. Further detail on the various Rules or policies that apply in relation to oral hearings for each type of case dealt with by the Parole Board can be found in the guidance.

Practice guidance for oral hearings