The Prisoners Review Board was established under the Sentence Administration Act 2003. Members of the Board come from all walks of life and a variety of cultural backgrounds. All members receive training before participating in meetings. It started operation on 29 January 2007.

The main role of the Board is to conduct parole hearings throughout Western Australia and make decisions on the release of offenders from prisons and other custodial facilities.

The Board is made up of a chairperson, two deputy chairpersons, community members, public sector officers and police officers. 

The Board's chairperson, deputy chairperson and community members are nominated by the Attorney General and appointed by the Governor. The number of community members appointed can vary according to the workload of the Board.

Public sector officers are appointed by the relevant department's CEO, while police officers are appointed by the Police Commissioner. The number of public sector officers and police officers appointed can also vary according to the workload of the Board.

A victim of an offence, for which an offender is in custody, may lodge a written submission with the Board.

The submission can:

1. Describe how the victim thinks the release of the offender would have on them
2. Make suggestions about the conditions that should apply to the offender if released.

If a victim is incapable of making a submission due to age, disability or infirmity, another person may make a victim's submission on the victim's behalf.

Victim submissions are described in more detail in the Sentence Administration Act 2003 Part 2 Division 1 section 5C.

At any time from when a person is sentenced to imprisonment.

Yes. A parole order is not to be made if the prisoner has given written notice that he or she does not want to be released on parole. Section 33(1) Sentence Administration Act 2003.

No. The Board is exempt from Schedule 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 1992.

Information about provisions of secrecy is available in Section 119 of the Sentence Administration Act 2003.

There is a legislative requirement for a minimum of three members - a chair (or deputy), a community member and a departmental member; however there is no maximum number. Boards will be constituted of different numbers of members.

The Board will be sitting four days per week. On occasions there may be two boards sitting on the same day.

No. The safety of the community is the paramount consideration and each case is considered individually.

The State Review Boards Secretariat staff will notify the prison and the prisoner of the outcome of the Board's deliberations. Secretariat staff are not permitted to release any information about a prisoner's status to anyone else. Victims of offences are entitled to information through the Victim Notification Register and the Victim Offender Mediation Unit.

No.

There are many factors the Board will consider when deciding whether to release a person from custody. These considerations are set out in s5A of the Sentence Administration Act 2003.

Yes. It is a request for a review which will be considered in the first instance by the Chairman of the Board.