Parole Board chief urges new prison-release system based on behaviour

THE head of the Parole Board yesterday said he favoured the abolition of the remission system in prisons, which entitles inmates to an automatic reduction of 25% off their sentence.

Gordon Holmes said the system should be replaced by an entitlement to parole but that any early release would be dependant on the extent to which the offender reformed himself in prison.

His suggestion was backed by the Fine Gael justice spokesman Jim O’Keeffe.