Victims Allowed at Parole Hearings Across England, Wales

Victims of crime in England and Wales will now have the opportunity to attend parole hearings, a reform aimed at increasing transparency and confidence in the justice system. This initiative, which follows a successful pilot in the South West and Greater Manchester, allows victims to apply to observe how offenders are held accountable and assessed for their potential release. Victims will not see the entire hearing due to certain sensitive evidence being presented privately, but they will gain insight into the parole process. Victims' commissioner Baroness Newlove emphasized the importance of this reform in making victims feel more involved rather than sidelined. The government plans to introduce further measures later this year, giving ministers more authority over the release of serious offenders. Victims minister Alex Davies-Jones stated that this change is part of a broader effort to ensure the justice system better serves victims.