Ministry of Justice

NEW ZEALAND PAROLE BOARD

Expressions of Interest are being sought from suitably qualified persons who wish to be considered for appointment to the New Zealand Parole Board (the Parole Board).  Both panel convenor and community member (non-legal) positions are being considered.

Background

The Parole Board is established by section 108 of the Parole Act 2002 (the Act).  It is an independent statutory body whose role is principally to consider offenders eligible for release on parole and to determine the conditions to be imposed on offenders on release, and in some cases monitor compliance with conditions.

The Act provides for the Board to comprise:

• a Chairperson who is to be a present or former Judge of the High Court, or a present or former District Court Judge.
• at least nine parole panel convenors who are required to be present or former District Court Judges, or suitably qualified barristers or solicitors who have held practising certificates for at least seven years.
• sufficient other members to enable the Board to carry out its functions effectively. (These members are commonly referred to as community or lay members).

Appointments to the Parole Board are made by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Attorney-General.   All members are appointed for a term of up to three years and may be reappointed. 

Functions of the Board

The full functions of the New Zealand Parole Board are to:

• consider offenders for parole, or release on compassionate grounds (on referral by the Chair)
• set the conditions for offenders released at their statutory release dates, and for offenders released on parole or compassionate grounds
• consider and determine applications for the variation and discharge of release conditions
• consider applications for imposition of special conditions for Extended Supervision Orders
• consider the imposition of postponement orders
• consider applications for recall to prison
• monitor compliance with release conditions for certain identified cases

Functions of a Panel Convener

The functions of a panel convenor:

at a hearing,—

(i)    to preside at the hearing; and

(ii)   to determine any matters of procedure that may arise during or in relation to the hearing; and

(iii)  to sign the decision of the panel at that hearing; and

·         to make interim recall orders under section 62(external link); and

·         to undertake reviews under sections 46(2)(external link) and 67(external link); and

·         to do anything else that a Panel Convenor is required to do under this Act or any other enactment; and

·         under the direction of the Chairperson, to undertake or assist in the exercise of any of his or her functions.

The role

All member positions on the Parole Board are part-time.   Every effort is made to roster work for members on the basis of the time commitment they seek, however; because the Parole Board does not control the number of cases it has to consider, there can be no guarantee around work. A commitment of five sitting days (and a further five preparation days) every six weeks  is required.

The Parole Board conducts some hearings in person in prisons and other hearings by Teams connection to the prisons.  Members will be therefore be required to travel to prisons throughout the country. Where the connection is by MSTeams members may connect from home. 

Members of the Parole Board receive reimbursement by way of fees and travelling allowances in accordance with the Fees and Travelling Allowances Act 1951 and the current Fees Framework approved by Cabinet.  The daily fee is for panel convenors is currently set at $948 and for  members is set at $601.

Attributes sought

Expressions of interest are sought from candidates who have:

• knowledge or understanding of the criminal justice system
• the analytical and decision-making skills necessary to make a balanced and reasonable assessment of the risk an offender may present to the community when released from prison
• sensitivity to, and understanding of, the values and mores of cultures other than their own.
  
  

Expressions of Interest

Expressions of interest are sought by Friday 3 May 2024 and should be emailed to General.OLC@justice.govt.nz. 

Please include a full curriculum vitae and cover letter, together with completed expression of interest forms.

Links

• Expression of Interest forms [PDF, 372 KB]