(1)  If a prisoner is eligible to be released on parole, the Board is to consider whether the prisoner should be so released before the date on which the prisoner becomes eligible to be released on parole.

(1A)  The Board must notify the Commissioner of Police at least 7 days before the Board considers whether to release a prisoner on parole.

(2)  A prisoner whose release on parole is being considered under subsection (1) may be heard personally on the matter by the Board if the Board so determines.

(2A)  If the Board is to consider the release on parole of a prisoner, the Board is to request the Secretary, in writing, to search the eligible persons register and then advise the Board of the names of all victims listed in the register in respect of the prisoner specified in the request.

(2AB)  The Secretary may provide to the Board the name of the parent or guardian of a victim listed in the eligible persons register if the victim –

(a) has not attained the age of 18 years; or

(b) is mentally incapable of making representations on his or her own behalf.

(2B)  On receipt of a request under subsection (2A) , the Secretary is to search the eligible persons register and, if a victim is listed in it in respect of the prisoner specified in the request, the Secretary is to notify each such victim or, if subsection (2AB) applies, the parent or guardian of the victim, in writing, that –

(a) the release of the prisoner on parole is to be considered by the Board; and

(b) the victim or, if subsection (2AB) applies, the parent or guardian of the victim may provide to the Board, within 30 days after receiving the notice, a written statement that –

(i) gives particulars of any injury, loss or damage suffered by the victim as a direct result of the offence; and

(ii) describes the effects on the victim of the commission of the offence.

(2C)  After notifying a victim or, if subsection (2AB) applies, the parent or guardian of the victim, under subsection (2B) , the Secretary is to notify the Board, in writing, of –

(a) the name of that victim; and

(b) the date on which the notice was given under that subsection.

(2D)  If a search of the eligible persons register under subsection (2B) discloses that no victim is listed in the register, the Secretary is to notify the Board, in writing, of that fact.

(2E)  If the Board has received notice from the Secretary to the effect that the Secretary has notified one or more victims or, if subsection (2AB) applies, parents or guardians of the victim, under subsection (2B) , the Board is not to consider whether the prisoner should be released on parole until the first of the following occurs:

(a) all persons so notified have provided the Board with written statements;

(b) the expiry of the period of 30 days in which the last person so notified may provide a statement under subsection (2B) .

(3)  The Board may –

(a) order that a prisoner be released on parole –

(i) at such time as is specified in the order; and

(ii) for such period as the Board considers appropriate and as is specified in the order; or

(b) defer making a decision on whether or not the prisoner should be released on parole; or

(c) refuse to release the prisoner on parole.

(4)  In determining whether or not a prisoner should be released on parole, the Board is to take into consideration –

(a) the likelihood of the prisoner re-offending; and

(b) the protection of the public; and

(c) the rehabilitation of the prisoner; and

(d) any remarks made by the court in passing sentence; and

(e) the likelihood of the prisoner complying with the conditions; and

(f) the circumstances and gravity of the offence, or offences, for which the prisoner was sentenced to imprisonment; and

(g) the behaviour of the prisoner while in prison and, if he or she has been in a secure mental health unit, while in that secure mental health unit; and

(h) the behaviour of the prisoner during any previous release on parole; and

(i) the behaviour of the prisoner while subject to any order of a court; and

(j) any reports tendered to the Board on the social background of the prisoner, the medical, psychological or psychiatric condition of the prisoner or any other matter relating to the prisoner, including in the case of a prisoner who is or has been a forensic patient any report of the Chief Psychiatrist; and

(k) the probable circumstances of the prisoner after release from prison; and

(ka) any statement provided under subsection (2B) by a victim, or, if subsection (2AB) applies, the parent or guardian of the victim, of an offence for which the prisoner has been sentenced to imprisonment; and

(kb) if the prisoner is a sex offender prisoner, any notice or assessment given to the Board pursuant to section 31(6) or (7) concerning the prisoner's participation or non-participation in appropriate treatment; and

(l) any other matters that the Board thinks are relevant.

(5)  A parole order is subject to such terms and conditions as the Board considers necessary and as are specified in the order.

(5A)  Without limiting the generality of subsection (5) , the Board may impose on a parole order in respect of a prisoner the following conditions:

(a) a condition that the prisoner must submit to electronic monitoring, including by wearing or carrying an electronic device;

(b) a condition that the prisoner must not remove, tamper or interfere with, damage or disable any electronic device or equipment used for the purpose of the electronic monitoring;

(c) a condition that the prisoner must not knowingly permit a person, who is unauthorised to do so, to remove, tamper or interfere with, damage or disable any electronic device or equipment used for the purpose of the electronic monitoring;

(d) a condition that the prisoner must comply with all reasonable and lawful directions, in relation to the electronic monitoring or an electronic device or equipment used for the purpose of the electronic monitoring, that are given to the prisoner by –

(i) a police officer or probation officer; or

(ii) a person authorised by the Director or Secretary to exercise powers in relation to electronic monitoring.

(6)  The Board may, at any time before the release of a prisoner under a parole order, revoke or amend the order.

(7)  If the Board makes an order under subsection (3)(a)  –

(a) it is to cause notice of the order to be given to the prisoner in such manner as it considers appropriate; and

(b) it is to publish its reasons for the order and is to give a copy of the reasons to any victim who has provided a statement under subsection (2B) .

(7A)  Before publishing the reasons and giving a copy of them to a victim or, if subsection (2AB) applies, the parent or guardian of the victim, the Board may delete any material that relates to the privacy of the prisoner or of any other person if the Board is of the opinion that it is in the interests of the prisoner or any other person to do so.

(8)  If the Board defers making a decision on whether or not a prisoner should be released on parole or refuses to release a prisoner on parole, it is to cause notice of its decision in writing to be given to the prisoner and, where it refuses parole, its reasons for so refusing.

(9)  If the Board is of the opinion that it would be in the interest of the prisoner, any other person or the public to withhold from the prisoner any or all of the reasons referred to in subsection (8) , the Board may withhold the reasons from the prisoner.

(10)  If the Board refuses to release a prisoner on parole, the Board may not further consider the release of the prisoner on parole until the expiration of 3 months from the date of the last refusal.

(11)  In this section –

forensic patient has the same meaning as in the Mental Health Act 2013 ;

restriction order means a restriction order made under the Criminal Justice (Mental Impairment) Act 1999 or Sentencing Act 1997 .