Order, Order.

We turn now to a Stage 3 Vote on WB143, the Protection of Parole Requirements (Serious Offences) (Wales) Bill, in the name of the Welsh Libertarians.

Parole Requirements (Serious Offences) (Wales) Bill

An Act of the Senedd Cymru to provide for stricter parole requirements for individuals convicted of grievous bodily harm (GBH) offences and above, with a focus on rehabilitative activities, to enhance public safety and promote successful reintegration into society.

Having been passed by the Senedd Cymru and having received the assent of His Majesty, it is enacted as follows:

Section 1: Amendment to Parole Process

(1) The parole process shall include an evaluation of the offender’s risk to public safety, potential for rehabilitation, and willingness to actively participate in rehabilitative activities.

(2) In cases involving indictable offences punishable by a statutory penalty of or statutory maximum of imprisonment for life, not including common law offences with a theoretical maximum penalty of imprisonment for life without a maximum penalty specified in statute, the Parole Board shall impose stricter conditions for parole release, including but not limited to:

(a) Mandatory completion of rehabilitative activities, such as counselling, vocational training, or educational programs, designed to address the causes of the offence and reduce the risk of reoffending.

(b) Close monitoring and supervision during the parole period, including regular reporting to parole officers, adherence to curfews, and restrictions on contact with certain individuals or locations.

(c) Implementation of a structured post-release plan, including suitable accommodation, employment or educational opportunities, and ongoing support services.

(3) Where the Parole Board feels that the risk to the public is too great and has acted within any set guidances according to paragraph 8, they shall be empowered to reject parole for the entirety of the offender’s conviction, in which —

(a) the Parole Board shall notify the official liaison on behalf of the offender of such decision.

(4) According to paragraph 3, the status of the decision shall be subject to annual reviews by the Parole Board.

(5) According to paragraph 3, the official liaison on behalf of the offender shall be eligible to submit an appeal against the decision.

(6) According to paragraph 3, decisions by the Parole Board may be appealed within 21 days from the date the decision is issued.

(7) According to paragraph 5, all requested appeals must be submitted to the Reconsideration Team and logged.

(8) The Welsh Ministers shall have the power to set regulations by secondary legislation regarding guidance for the terms of parole rejection.

(9) Regulations under paragraph 8 shall be subject to negative procedure.

Section 2: Offender Rehabilitation Programs

(1) The Welsh Ministers shall allocate, at their discretion, the necessary resources to the provision of offender rehabilitation programmes, with a specific focus on the offence cited in Section 1(2).

(2) Rehabilitation programs shall be evidence-based and tailored to the individual needs of the offender, addressing factors such as violence prevention, anger management, substance abuse, and pro-social skills development.

(3) The Welsh Ministers shall collaborate with relevant agencies, non-governmental organisations, and experts to ensure the effectiveness and accessibility of rehabilitative activities.

Section 3: Commencement

(1) This act shall come into force six months after Royal Assent.

Section 4: Short Title

(1) This act may be cited as the Parole Requirements (Serious Offences) (Wales) Act.

***This bill was written by The Most Honourable u/model-willem KD KP OM KCT KCB CMG CBE PC MS MSP MLA, MS for Swansea East, on behalf of the Welsh Libertarians. Co-sponsored by Independent /uPoliticoBailey MS and Llafur Cymru. Based on the Parole Requirements (Serious Offences) Bill by u/Sephronar.*

Opening Speech

Llywydd, I am happy to put forward this bill today, as I believe that it will make Wales safer and also better for the people who are in the prison system right now. Wales has had its own judicial and prison system for a while now, after the devolution of these powers happened, but we have done too little to improve the system. This bill will do that, as it will put a better focus on rehabilitation than we have done in the past, and by doing this in extent make Wales safer than it is right now.

The goal of this bill is very clear, it tries to impose stricter rules for parole releases. This might sound like a way to attack prisoners, but it actually makes sure that we take care of them better. This bill ensures that the people in the prison system that have committed serious offences complete their rehabilitation process, get mandatory monitoring, and most importantly a structured post-release plan. The last part is the most important in my opinion, this plan ensures that the people who are getting out of prison have a plan ready to go, to go back into society. We want these people to have a job, have accommodation to sleep in, and a support system that will ensure that they don’t fall back into their previous habits.

Voting on this bill will end on Sunday 24th September at 10pm BST.