The Mahoney Inquiry into the Management of Offenders in Custody and in the Community clearly identified that the work of the Parole Board was not sufficiently understood and that the decisions made were not simple.

The new Prisoners Review Board is aiming to be as open and accessible as possible. We are constrained by confidentiality and data protection (s.119 of the Sentence Administration Act 2003).

However, section 107C(2) of the Act allows the chairperson of the Board to make a Board decision or the reasons for it public if the chairperson considers it in the public interest to do so, having regard to all the circumstances, including the interests of the prisoner and any victim.

In addition, the political climate is constantly changing and so are expectations in terms of openness and recognition of particular issues. It is imperative therefore, that we provide clear lines of communication to internal and external stakeholders.

There is an extensive list of stakeholders, every one of whom is involved in different ways in what we do. The list begins with victims of crime, offenders, corrections staff, and Community Justice Services and continues with others involved in the resettlement and rehabilitation of prisoners in the community.

We need to communicate with all those involved in the non-government sector of the justice system and support organisations, focussing on specific issues and representing the interests of particular groups of stakeholders, such as those of ethnic minorities and prisoners' families. Also on our list is the legislature. As new legislation is being formulated and implemented, which affects the Board directly, we need to be involved.

Communicating with such a range of audiences is a daunting task. Meeting the communication needs of justice stakeholders is achievable given thought, planning, consultation and prioritisation of resources.

The Board's decisions should be delivered in a timely manner. The reasons for decisions should be expressed in language that is easily understood.

Meeting the communication needs of the press, broadcast media and, via them, the public presents specific challenges. The Board is conscious of being open and accessible to these stakeholders without compromising essential confidentiality.

One of the essential things to understand about the Board is that we rely heavily on information and risk assessment coming to us from other sources. The quality of our decisions and the efficiency of the process is only as good as the sum of its parts.

The Board is committed;

• To devising comprehensive communications strategies to meet the needs and reasonable expectations of all categories of stakeholder
• To setting out internal and external action plans with achievable projects to specific deadlines
• To setting up a process to monitor and review the Board's decisions
• To increasing public understanding and confidence in the Prisoners Review Board
• To increasing efficiency of operation and performance by improving channels of communication

Members need the tools to do their job. They need practical information about where to go, what to do, dates of sittings and other events. This needs to be timely and accurate so that diaries can be planned, and sufficient time allowed for preparation.

Members also need up-to-date and accurate information on policy and procedural developments, including changes in the law. They need general information about the management of the Board, including issues that affect them directly as well as wider political issues, developments in research and current thinking on re-offending and risk assessment.

Victims of crimes registered on the Victims Notification Register, where an individual prisoner is subject to the parole process, want to receive detailed and timely information about how and when crucial decisions, leading to possible release, will be taken and the means by which their views will be taken into consideration. They need to know their views will be taken seriously and that their comments will be kept confidential.

Amendments to the Sentence Administration Act 2003 require that at least one member of the Board shall have a knowledge and understanding of the impact of offences on victims.

Offenders need practical information about their entitlements, how their parole hearings are considered, how they can make submissions to the Board and if they can have their case reviewed in the event of a negative decision.

It is important that the offender is aware of all the factors that the Board takes into account in its decision making including the issue of risk. Objectivity and reasonable assessment are the key factors community members must maintain in assessing the degree of risk that the release of a prisoner would appear to present to the personal safety of people in the community.

Corrections and Community Justice Services staff are critical to every aspect of the Boards decision making. They provide information and assessments before release and supervision after release. They require a clear understanding of the Boards emphasis on risk management and analysis.

They need a clear understanding of how the Board arrives at its decisions and the responsibilities it is charged with in that process under the legislation.

There clearly is a need for the Board to be conscious in its decision making process of cultural diversity not only across the Aboriginal population but also amongst other groups that are the Australian population.

These groups have a special need for information on how the Board operates and makes it decisions. It is important therefore that the Board is proactive in developing lines of communication with these groups allowing for an awareness of the continuance of cultural expectations when releasing a prisoner to parole.

The Board has a Public Relations and Media Coordinator as an initial point of contact and for interview requests.