Board practice and procedures

Board meetings

Board meetings are held most weekdays, and special Board meetings can convene after hours on weekends and public holidays as required.

There are three Board meeting types:

  • General offenders - Panel sittings comprise a judicial member, who is the presiding chair, a full-time member and a community member.
  • SVOSO Division - Panel sittings comprise of the Chairperson and one of the full-time members. For prisoners categorised as Serious Violent Offenders or Sexual Offenders (SVOSO), a general Board panel considers whether to recommend parole. The SVOSO Division will then consider whether to grant or deny parole. The two-tiered decision-making process provides a higher level of scrutiny before parole is granted to serious offenders.
  • Interviews - Panel sittings consist of a judicial member, who is the presiding chair, a full-time member and a community member.

Member education

The Board has an established comprehensive, educational seminar program to raise the standards and knowledge of its members, and to promote consistency in the making of decisions. The program involves monthly seminars presented by experts and professionals who are leaders in their fields, biannual all-day seminars, and visits to prisons and correctional facilities.

Each monthly seminar includes a ‘practice discussion’ during which the Chairperson and full-time members provide essential updates regarding Board practices to the members. The members also have an opportunity to contribute their perspective to the practices and operation of the Board.

Professional Standards for Members of the Adult Parole Board 

Professional Standards for Members of the Adult Parole Board (PDF) 719 kB