IPP / DPP
IPP / DPP
Many people sentenced to IPP/DPP sentences believe they will be automatically released once their tariff expires.
The reality is that they will not and are detained in prison indefinitely until their risk is judged by an oral hearing of the Parole Board to be sufficiently reduced. This is a court like hearing and needs to be prepared properly with an experienced advocate present to best represent a person’s case to the Board.
The tariffs in these cases (the part of the sentence where release is impossible) have caused huge problems for those people serving these sentences. Even now that no-one can be sentenced to DPP/IPP unless the tariff would be two years or more, the problems continue.
Courses which must be taken to show the Parole Board that a person’s risk has reduced so that they can be safely released are simply in critically short supply. Many DPPs and IPPs are now serving far longer in prison than they should be because of this shortage. They need to get expert advice as quickly as they can.
Their risk is assessed by the Parole Board in an oral panel before a Judge and two Parole Board members; they are independent of the prison service, the Ministry of Justice and will make their own minds up whether to direct that someone should be released, or recommend no-progress or progressing to open conditions.
Release is certainly is not automatic and even when all recommend release, if the Parole Board are not happy risk has been reduced, there will be no release or progression.
We strongly recommend that people serving these sentences get urgent legal advice from Prison Law specialists with expertise in DPP/IPP sentences as soon as possible. Representation is essential and as in any other life sentence case before the Parole Board, prospects of success depend very largely on the expertise of the representative instructed.
Also as in other life sentence cases, self representation is shown in case after case to be ineffective and result in very long knock backs and delays in a person’s progress to release.
