The use of intermediaries (communication specialists) at Parole Board oral hearings in England and Wales

Purpose - The purpose of this paper was to find out what role intermediaries have in facilitating communication with victims and prisoners at Parole Board oral hearings.

Design / methodology / approach - A survey was designed and administered to thirty-nine Parole Board members to find out their perceptions of, and experiences with, the use of intermediaries. Frequency tables and verbatim quotations are used to report the results.

Findings - Overall, participants had not experienced any use of intermediaries with victims or family members presenting victim personal statements at an oral hearing. Further, there had been limited use of intermediaries for prisoners attending oral hearings. Nevertheless, there was a good recognition of a range of communication needs that a prisoner might present with at a hearing. There was also general support for the use of intermediaries with some caution about possible delays to procedural fairness.

Originality/value - This is the first published paper examining the role of intermediaries at Parole Board oral hearings. It builds on the evidence base of the use of intermediaries in other criminal justice contexts.