There has been a parole function in Western Australia since the late 1800s. A board that makes decisions on the release of offenders into the community has been operating in Western Australia since October 1964.

In 2005, the Government established the Inquiry into the Management of Offenders in Custody and in the Community, known as the Mahoney inquiry.

The function of the enquiry was to examine the management of offenders in Western Australia, including the operation of the Parole Board.

The inquiry highlighted the unpredictability of human nature and the subsequent difficulties encountered by the Parole Board in its decision making. It identified that there was a tendency to attract adverse media coverage, when a decision made by the Parole Board appeared flawed.

The inquiry reported that, in many cases, the criticism was unwarranted as the circumstances were often beyond the Parole Board's control. The capacity to interact with the community, offenders and the justice system as a whole, was also limited

Subsequent amendments to the Sentence Administration Act 2003 have resulted in the creation of the Prisoners Review Board to replace the Parole Board.

On 28 January 2007, the Act was proclaimed and the Prisoners Review Board began operation.

The legislation ensures the new Board's focus is protection of the community.

The Prisoners Review Board will be more transparent and accountable to the public with the chairperson having the power to publicly release information regarding parole and respond to community or media interest in matters.

Other key changes include:

• more frequent meetings
• smaller case numbers per meeting
• increased training, education and professional development for Board members.