Practitioner Case Study: The Role of Intermediaries at Parole Board Oral Hearings

Title – The Role of Intermediaries at Parole Board Oral Hearings

Abstract:

An exploratory study about the use of intermediaries (communication specialists) at Parole Board Oral Hearings with the following aims:

• To what extent are intermediaries used to facilitate communication with vulnerable prisoners giving evidence at oral hearings?
• To what extent are intermediaries used to facilitate communication with vulnerable victims attending oral Hearings?

 39 participants completed the research questionnaire. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis.

Results:

• Participants recognized a number of communication difficulties that persons attending an oral hearing may have including needs relating to learning disability; mental illness; personality disorder; ADHD; autism; dementia; head injury and trauma.
• Participants had limited experience of intermediaries attending parole hearings for prisoners.
• Participants had no experience of intermediaries attending parole hearings for victims.
• There was support for using intermediaries at oral hearings.
• There were some cautionary words of concern including awareness that oral hearings may take longer, and the parole process be delayed, causing unfairness, if intermediaries were required.

Conclusions:

• In the absence of a formal intermediary service for Parole Board Oral Hearings, all Parole Board Members, professional witnesses, and legal representatives must be aware of adaptations that should be made to enable effective communication at Parole Board oral hearings.