DELAYS BY government departments to prepare reports are hindering the newly-appointed Parole Board’s ability to examine prisoners’ applications, the House Human Rights Committee was told yesterday.
Speaking after the meeting, Committee Chairman, DIKO’s Sophocles Fyttis said the Board had received 73 applications so far, of which 29 were deemed premature – based on the Board, the Prison Director and the Attorney-general’s advice.
For the remaining 44 applications, reports were requested from the relevant state departments – such as Social Welfare, the Mental Health Department, the police and Prison Director. But according to Fyttis, only the Prison Director has responded for 18 cases.
“The Committee suggested more practical and speedy ways of acquiring these reports, with deadlines, so the Board can receive them in time to make decisions,” said Fyttis.
The DIKO MP called on prisoners to show good behaviour to take advantage of the new law – which was passed earlier this year in compliance with EU directives.
“This good behaviour will be the first and main benefit; the second indirect result will be to decongest the prisons,” said Fyttis.
The Committee, he added, planned to keep a close eye on the matter and has already scheduled another meeting in December to check on any progress made.
The head of the Parole Board, George Mettouris, pointed out that unless the Board had reports from the Social Welfare and Mental Health Departments, as well as the Prison Director, it was impossible to examine applications.
“You understand how essential these reports are to us,” said Mettouris.
MP Dina Akkelidou of ruling AKEL underlined the significance of the new Board, which she said was human-centred and extremely useful, taking into respect the prisoners’ human rights, as well as the prison’s need to operate as a correctional institution. The measure, she added, was important to the EU, which has issued a directive calling on all member states to harmonise their legislation and implement Parole Boards.
“It is considered one of the most effective methods to deter ex prisoners from repeating their crimes,” said Akkelidou.
But she added, “Due to insufficiencies and shortcomings, this new institution cannot be implemented satisfactorily; therefore we will support efforts to cover these shortcomings as soon as possible”.
EDEK’s Roulla Mavronicolas also referred to the “many functional problems” faced by the Board, saying there was just one Social Worker in charge of examining the applications and preparing the relevant reports.
“You understand the problems are multiple,” said Mavronicola, before calling on the Justice Ministry to resolve them so the Board can do what it was appointed to do.
