{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-1991/section-32",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-1991/section-32.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1991/53",
  "legislation_title": "Criminal Justice Act 1991",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-1991",
  "path": "section/32",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "32",
  "heading": "The Parole Board.",
  "text": "(1) The Parole Board shall be, by that name, a body corporate and as such shall .\n(a) be constituted in accordance with this Part; and\n(b) have the functions conferred by this Part in respect of long-term and short-term prisoners and by Chapter II of Part II of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 (“Chapter II”) in respect of life prisoners within the meaning of that Chapter.\n(2) It shall be the duty of the Board to advise the Secretary of State with respect to any matter referred to it by him which is connected with the early release or recall of prisoners.\n(3) The Board shall deal with cases as respects which it makes recommendations under this Part or Chapter II on consideration of—\n(a) any documents given to it by the Secretary of State; and\n(b) any other oral or written information obtained by it,\nand if in any particular case the Board thinks it necessary to interview the person to whom the case relates before reaching a decision, the Board may authorise one of its members to interview him and shall consider the report of the interview made by that member.\n(4) The Board shall deal with cases as respects which it gives directions under this Part or Chapter II on consideration of all such evidence as may be adduced before it.\n(5) Without prejudice to subsections (3) and (4) above, the Secretary of State may make rules with respect to the proceedings of the Board, including provision authorising cases to be dealt with by a prescribed number of its members or requiring cases to be dealt with at prescribed times.\n(6) The Secretary of State may also give to the Board directions as to the matters to be taken into account by it in discharging any functions under this Part or Chapter II; and in giving any such directions the Secretary of State shall in particular have regard to—\n(a) the need to protect the public from serious harm from offenders; and\n(b) the desirability of preventing the commission by them of further offences and of securing their rehabilitation.\n(7) Schedule 5 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the Board.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 32(1) substituted (1.7.1996) by 1994 c. 33, s. 149; S.I. 1996/1608, art. 2( S.I. 1996/1530 having been revoked by S.I. 1996/1608, art. 3)."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 32(1)(a)(b) substituted for words (1.10.1997 so far as relating to offences the sentences for which fall to be imposed under section 2(2) or 3(2) and otherwise 1.12.1999) by 1997 c. 43, s. 55(2), Sch. 4 para. 15(1)(a); S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1)(2)(h); S.I. 1999/3096, art. 2(e)."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 32(1)(b)(3)(4)(6) substituted (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 119, Sch. 8 paras. 79(1), 79(2); S.I. 1998/2327, art.2(1)(y)(2)(y)."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 32 modified (8.9.1997) by S.I. 1997/2200, art. 5(3)(c)."
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Pt. II (ss. 32-51) wholly in force at 1.10.1992 see s. 102(2)(3) and S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/53/section/32",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:36:55.708645+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}