Guidance

Parole Board Welsh Language Scheme 2021-2023

The Parole Board has extended its approved Welsh Language Scheme for a further two-year period, from 2021 until 2023.

Documents

Welsh Language Scheme cover letter 2020

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Details

Overview

The Welsh Language Act 1993 gives the Welsh and English language equal status in public life in Wales. It places a duty on the public sector to treat both languages equally when providing services to the public.

The act requires public bodies to produce a Language Scheme to explain which services they will provide in Welsh, how they will do so and when.

The Parole Board has adopted the principle that in the conduct of public business and the administration of justice in Wales, it will treat the English and Welsh languages on a basis of equality, so far as is both appropriate in the circumstances and reasonably practicable.

The Parole Board’s Welsh Language Scheme sets out how the Board will give effect to that principle in the services to the public in Wales for which it is responsible. The Scheme has been adopted by the Parole Board Management Committee and was approved by the Welsh Language Commissioner on 10 August 2018. The Scheme has been extended for a further two years until the end of 2023.

The Parole Board Equality and Diversity Advisory Group (EDAG) is developing a new Action Plan for 2021-2023, which will be available in the near future.

Welsh Language Scheme Annual Monitoring Report

Each year the Parole Board is required to submit a monitoring report to the Welsh Language Commissioner setting out how we have progressed against our Welsh Language Action Plan.

The report for the year 2020/21 was submitted on 8 July 2021.

Previous Reports

The report for the year 2019/20 was submitted on 31 July 2020.

Welsh Language Scheme cover letter 2020

Parole Board Welsh Language Scheme Action Plan Progress Report 2020

The report for the year 2018/19 was submitted on 18 June 2019.

Letter from Martin Jones to Welsh Language Commissioner 2019

Parole Board Welsh Language Scheme Action Plan Progress Report 2019

Information for Parole Board members

Parole Board members have been provided with guidance and advice relating to parole cases where the prisoner’s first or preferred language is Welsh, as well as any other individual or organisation that communicates with the Board in Welsh.

More information and the guidance can be read here

Annexed to the guidance is an information sheet for Welsh speaking prisoners about the options available to them to engage in their parole review in Welsh, where this is their preference. This information sheet is provided as a bilingual document.

Information for Prisoners

In addition to the information sheet mentioned above, the Parole Board has produced the following documents which provide information about parole; both are available in English and Welsh:

Getting ready for a parole review without a lawyer

This Parole Board booklet provides guidance and support for prisoners who opt to represent themselves during the parole process rather than seeking a lawyer, or, for whatever reason are unable to appoint a lawyer.

Information for family and friends of prisoners having a parole review

This Parole Board booklet provides a useful go-to document for anyone wishing to support someone in prison going through parole.

Code of Practice for Victims of Crime in England and Wales

The revised Code of Practice for Victims of Crime in England and Wales came into force on 1 April 2021. Within the Code there are two key new entitlements related to the Welsh Language:

  • Victims signed up to the Victim Contact Scheme have the Right to submit a Victim Personal Statement to the Parole Board in Welsh, irrespective of the location of the offender.
  • Victims have the Right to ask for a summary of the parole decision to be provided in Welsh.

More information for victims and how to access these new entitlements can be found here.

Published 21 July 2021
Last updated 14 August 2019 + show all updates
  1. Added translation

  2. Each year the Parole Board is required to submit a monitoring report to the Welsh Language Commissioner setting out how we have progressed against our Welsh language action plan. The report for the year 2018/19 was submitted on 2 July 2019/ Bob blwyddyn, mae gofyn i’r Bwrdd Parôl gyflwyno adroddiad monitro i Gomisiynydd y Gymraeg sy’n esbonio sut yr ydym wedi symud ymlaen yn unol â’n cynllun gweithredu iaith Gymraeg. Cyflwynwyd yr adroddiad ar gyfer y flwyddyn 2018/19 ar 2 Gorffennaf 2019.