Ken Post, a retired Police Inspector with 37 years service, provided a first hand insight into the workings of the Parole Board where he has represented WA Police for the past 7 years, attending meetings 4-5 times per month. There are a number of different Parole Boards and Ken works on the “lifer” board. There are many factors to consider when assessing applications for parole, with mitigating risk management a major consideration and a community safety first attitude underpinning every decision. The overall Chair of all the boards is a Supreme Court judge and the various boards act as courts rather than tribunals. There is strong separation between law, police and justice. Many prisoners can and are re-habilitated and it is a matter of working with them, setting restrictive parole conditions where necessary. Ken provided us with two case studies, with input from the members as to what the decision should be. Many different opinions were put forward. A tough job when trying to weigh up someone’s future with community safety.
Ken thought he recognised a few faces in the room so who’s got a murky past! Excellent talk.
