Wendy: Success as Government Commits to Give Victims a Voice at Parole Hearings

Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North welcomed a commitment from the Scottish Government to give victims of crime a voice at Parole Hearings.

Labour MSP Margaret Curran put forward an amendment to the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 that would ensure that victims of serious crime would have the right to make representations in person to the Parole Board about the potential release of those who have been convicted of crimes against themselves or their families.  At Stage 2 of a Bill becoming Law – a committee stage – the committee voted against Margaret’s amendment (click here  for vote result: Voting against the Labour amendment for victims to speak at Parole boards: 3 SNP, 1 Liberal Democrat and 1 Conservative, voting for: 3 Labour Member’s.) but the Minister later relented and included the amendment in the draft of the Bill which will be re-presented to all MSPs in the Chamber for debate and voting at the last Stage 3.

Click here to find out a) Stages of a Bill becoming Law, and b) What are Parliamentary Committees and what work do they do?

The law currently allows victims to be able to write to the Parole Board to submit their views about the release of an individual who has been convicted of a serious offence, but the Labour MSP’s proposal guarantees the right of individuals or family members to make oral representations to the Parole Board when a criminal reaches a potential parole date.

Wendy Alexander said:

“This is a real step forward for victims rights. In Renfrewshire we have seen families of victims too often ignored. Letting victims and their families have a voice at Parole boards is another victim-centred policy put forward by my MSP colleague, like our tough proposal of mandatory minimum sentence for knife criminals.

“I firmly believe it is only fair that when criminals ask for Parole that the victims of their crimes have a right to have their voice heard and we will press the Minister to ensure adequate plans are brought forward and if not satisfactory we will bring the proposal back to the Parliament at Stage 3 of the current Criminal Justice Bill before Parliament.”