§ Lord Hayhoeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is a requirement for parole to be granted for the prisoner to admit the offence and to take part in a rehabilitation course; and, if not, how many prisoners have been granted parole without meeting these conditions in the year for which figures are available. [HL1819]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThere is no rule or policy which prevents a prisoner who denies his or her guilt from progressing through the system, or being released on parole licence. Nor is there a requirement to participate in a rehabilitation course. Such prisoners may be granted parole if their risk is assessed as having been reduced to a level that is compatible with the protection of public safety.
Information on the number of prisoners applying for parole and who deny their guilt is not centrally recorded by the Prison Service and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. However, as from January 2003, the Parole Board began to collate such data and for the period January to June 2003, in 34 per cent of cases, where prisoners maintained their innocence, parole was granted. Information is not held centrally on how many of these prisoners undertook interventions to address their offending behaviour.