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• All Board Members
  • Lindsay Burley
  • Lynne Cadenhead
  • Ian Jackson
  • Ali Jarvis
  • Grenville Johnston
  • Neena Mahal
  • Anne McNeill
  • John Mulgrew
  • Elaine Noad
  • Liz Robertson
  • Andrew Thin

Who am I?  I have undertaken a public appointment whilst working full time in the past. I have put forward in my application work and voluntary work experience as evidence of meeting the required criteria for the role. I am registered as a disabled person.

What’s the role all about? Members are required to work for up to 96 days per annum; but your time commitment can be agreed according to your work and other commitments.  It is also possible to manage the dates per month in order to balance your Parole Board duties with other commitments.  The role requires members to attend parole tribunals, interview prisoners prior to their consideration for parole, and participate in parole case meetings where decisions are made about whether prisoners should be paroled or not at the relevant stages in their prison sentence.  The work is extremely interesting.  It is also demanding of time and your commitment to the role of parole within the wider criminal justice system.  It requires a member to undertake a lot of reading of cases, and to reach balanced judgements based on the issue of managing risk.

What do I bring to the role?   I think I bring a set of communication and people skills which help in working with Parole Board staff and members, other people within the criminal justice system, and prisoners; quite a diverse mix of people.  I have a background in local authority work which gives me the relevant knowledge and experience to undertake this role.  I also like working with groups of other people, and team work is important in my role.

What do I get out of it?   I have met a range of people who I would not have met in other aspects of my life, and this has been an enriching and interesting experience.  I have learned a lot from others.  I also see how many people work to support and supervise prisoners in their prison sentence, and how that prepares them for the stage in their sentence where parole is considered.  I believe I have learned and developed and gained more and different skills as a result of undertaking this role.

What advice would I give someone who is thinking of applying? Look at the advert, the time commitment, the person specification, and see if it is a match for your interests and skills.  Ask for more information of the public body, anybody you know who has been involved with that body, and do your research on the internet, ie the organisation’s website.  Target your search for public roles, and ensure that you are satisfied that you have found a marriage of interests and experience with the role specification detailed in the advert and application pack.