Paper Reviews
Life sentence prisoners who are three years away from the end of their tariff period are entitled to receive a consideration by the Parole Board.
Life prisoners in Category C conditions for a year prior to the beginning of the review process are entitled to receive this review at the 3½ year point before the end of the tariff.
A review by the Parole Board in these circumstances follows the disclosure of a bundle of papers called a dossier. The first part is a historical background and register of progress up to the current review. The second half includes current reports from officers and professional grades in the prison service.
A life prisoner is entitled to make representations to the Parole Board in advance of the Parole Board's meeting. These written representations are the life prisoner's opportunity to explain how they feel they have progressed, and to correct any errors they see in the dossier. Further information can be provided to the Parole Board in terms of additional reports which a life prisoner may have available, or can commission through their solicitors.
The result of this is conveyed to the life prisoner, usually via the Lifer Review and Recall Section at the Home Office, on average between two or three months of the review being concluded.