Offender management: psychology risk assessment reports
This policy outlines requirements for practitioner psychologists producing psychology risk assessment (PRA) reports within His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service.
Applies to England and Wales
Documents
Details
This policy framework sets out the requirements and guidance for practitioner psychologists and trainee psychologists (under the supervision of practitioner psychologists) producing psychology risk assessment (PRA) reports for the following purposes within His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS):
- as part of the generic parole process for the Parole Board
- for recalled prisoners when directed by the Parole Board
- assisting with offender management activity (for example, sentence planning and review boards)
- contributing to Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangement (MAPPA) panels
- contributing to Category A, Restricted Status and terrorist/terrorist-connected risk reports
HMPPS psychologists (and those commissioned on behalf of HMPPS Psychology Services) providing reports for the Parole Board and on behalf of the Secretary of State (SofS) are required to follow a template that meets the requirements of the Public Protection Manual, offender management process, professional standards as set down by the Health Care and Professions Council (HCPC), requirements of the Parole Board (S32 (6) CJA1991), Parole Board rules, Generic parole process policy framework and the Recall, review and re-release of recalled prisoners policy framework.
This policy outlines mandatory actions relating to policy and practice as well as guidance on the structure and content required for PRA reports.
The policy framework was first published internally in 2025 for consideration by psychologists and is now ready for wider publication after their comments were addressed.