Parole: A Decade on Britain's Parole Board

by Rob McKeon

Deciding if a prisoner should stay in prison or be released is no mean feat. Enter the fascinating world of the parole board with Rob McKeon of BBC’s Parole.…You don’t know what you don’t know. How can you predict the future when you don’t know what you don’t know? Rob McKeon is a member of Britain’s parole board, making tough, life-changing decisions about whether a prisoner is safe to return to society; impacting not only prisoners and their victims, but also the general public. This vital work has been the subject of a BBC television documentary, Parole. For 12 years, Rob has been handling sensitive and high-profile cases, dealing with the social, moral, and emotional pressures that come with this difficult job. This book provides unique insight into his work, with a compelling behind-the-scenes look at parole hearings.

Genres: True Crime

288 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2024

Reviews

[Ⓢ Ⓨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rob McKeon is an independent member of the Parole Board and has reviewed the cases of over 5000 prisoners. It is his, and his colleagues, responsibility to consider whether a prisoner is safe to be released, and how well they will be monitored and managed in the community.
This book takes us through some of Rob’s past cases and gives us insight in to what is considered before a prisoner is let out of prison.

The Parole Board typically deal with serious assault, sexual offences, terrorism, gang related crime and organised crime. Rob reinforces the belief that the UK has on rehabilitation and not focusing on punishment, and quite surprisingly to me, the number of prisoners released by the parole board who go on to be accused of a further serious offence is less than one per cent.

Rob tackles questions like:
Is the UK soft on crime?
Should life mean life?
Do violent criminals deserve a second chance?

I really enjoyed this and found it very interesting. My husband was a prison chef for a long time, ultimately leaving because of pay and hours, and not because he didn’t like the job, or build bonds with the prisoners. I could never understand how he could work with such people (it was a sex offenders prison), and this book helped me gain a better perspective of how people end up in prison, and the benefits to be had by treating them with respect and the human rights they deserve. Sadly, childhood trauma, mental health and substance abuse feature a lot.

Rob explains how he has to put aside moral judgement, have empathy and remain impartial, essentially making very difficult, and sometimes unpopular decisions. A huge hats off to him, I don’t think many people possess those skills.

I found Keith’s story fascinating and was pleased how the negativity of Covid changed the hearing process for the better, improving technology and resulting in more cases being heard, without the quality of those cases being impacted.

I’d definitely recommend, it’s eye opening just how much work, and thought, really does go in to the rehabilitation of offenders. I was genuinely under the impression they just opened the door and kicked them out like you see on the television!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for my advanced copy.

[Amy Renz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rob McKeon’s Parole offers a behind-the-scenes look at the parole process, shedding light on the complex decisions that impact prisoners, victims, and society. McKeon’s experience as a Parole Board member brings authenticity and depth to the narrative, making it both informative and engaging. The book’s strength lies in its ability to humanize the often opaque world of parole hearings, providing readers with a nuanced understanding of the stakes involved. While some sections feel repetitive, the overall insight and real-life cases make it a worthwhile read.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A behind the curtain look at the process of parole hearings in the UK by a sitting magistrate. The author discusses how parole hearings are structured and managed, leading to a wider discussion of prison life and conditions for both inmates and staff.

I would have liked to have read about the authors background and more about how and why he ended up working for the parole service, but it was a good account nonetheless. I would have also liked to have known more about the cases he presided over rather than “Mr X was convicted of YZ, he was sentenced to X years, this was his first hearing” - of course there is a need to protect confidential information but other authors of similar books have done this successfully and still provided more details than given here.

An intriguing book that has made me want to seek out the TV documentary for greater insight.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a great book! The behind the scenes of a parole board is fascinating. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the criminal justice system.

[Joanne Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rob McKeon’s *Parole* offers a rare and insightful look into the high-stakes world of parole decisions, where the future of both prisoners and public safety hang in the balance. As a seasoned member of Britain’s parole board and a central figure in the BBC’s documentary *Parole*, McKeon provides an unparalleled view into the moral, legal, and emotional complexities involved in deciding whether a prisoner should be released back into society.

The heart of *Parole* lies in McKeon’s firsthand experiences over the course of 12 years. He presents a sobering portrait of the parole board’s work, balancing empathy for prisoners’ rehabilitation journeys with the heavy responsibility of ensuring public safety. Readers are introduced to the behind-the-scenes dynamics of parole hearings, offering a raw, unvarnished look at what it means to judge whether a person has truly changed.

One of the key themes McKeon explores is the inherent uncertainty of predicting human behavior. The question he continually confronts is: *How can you predict the future when you don’t know what you don’t know?* This existential dilemma runs throughout the book, capturing the challenges of decision-making in a world where the stakes are extraordinarily high, and the outcomes unpredictable. McKeon does not shy away from the psychological toll of these decisions, and his candid reflections highlight the weight that parole board members carry.

What sets *Parole* apart is its blend of human stories and procedural detail. McKeon doesn’t merely outline the technicalities of parole hearings; he invites readers into the minds of those involved—prisoners, victims, and parole board members alike. The cases McKeon discusses are both compelling and morally complex, raising questions about justice, redemption, and risk. His writing is measured and thoughtful, avoiding sensationalism while maintaining the tension that naturally accompanies these life-altering decisions.

Beyond the individual cases, *Parole* also highlights broader issues within the criminal justice system, such as public perception, media scrutiny, and the challenges of prisoner rehabilitation. McKeon is honest about the pressures that parole board members face, particularly when handling high-profile or controversial cases. His reflections reveal how difficult it is to strike a balance between compassion and caution, offering readers a deeper appreciation of the intricacies involved in these decisions.

In sum, *Parole* is a must-read for those interested in the inner workings of the criminal justice system and the personal toll of making decisions that can irrevocably change lives. Rob McKeon’s insider perspective, combined with his thought-provoking reflections, make this book an engaging and enlightening exploration of the delicate balance between justice, safety, and human dignity.

[Randal White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I worked for over 20 years in Federal Prisons in the United States. I remember well escorting prisoners to parole hearings. The preparation some did beforehand, and the exact opposite others did. I remember the anxiety MOST inmates felt going into the hearings. At times you could literally see them shaking, sweating, hyperventilating as they waited. Oftentimes, it was when I would actually see the "convict" face dissolve, and see the men as having the same emotions and feelings as I, expressions that at all other times were deeply, deeply masked and concealed.
I always wondered exactly how the Parole Board made their decisions. Sometimes it seems that the hearing was just a formality, that they already had their minds made up before the hearing. Other times I would find myself impressed with the inmate, and their preparation and forethought. And with the questions the Board members asked.
Thanks to NetGalley giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of McKeon's book, I now have answers. Even though he worked in British prisons, I believe the same thoughtfulness and reasoning would apply here in the United States. I was impressed with how he dug into a prisoner's background and their conduct while in prison, as well as their plans if released. After all, he really needed to get it right....no one would ever want to be the person who released an inmate who went right back out and committed some heinous crime.
I guess the bottom line is, most inmate's will be released someday. Those released on parole are hopefully as well vetted as the one's McKeon dealt with.
I liked this book, quite a lot. I learned a great deal. I like the author's style of writing, his thoughtfulness, and his ability to explain. It's a very good book!

[Simone Frost · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m interested in true crime and crime documentaries and I watched the BBC series Parole. I found it interesting so when I realised one of the parole officers had written a book, I got a copy.

I found it easy to read and interesting, although at times it did seem to jump from one case to another. The chapters aren’t too long. I think I had expected the author to deal with a case per chapter but it didn’t, so maybe this is why I thought it jumped around a bit.

The author has a lot of experience on the parole board and I found it an honest insight into what they do and what it’s like to work for them. It makes you think about prisoners and rehabilitation and shows another perspective from the ‘lock them up and throw away the key’ mentality that can be pushed by the media.

If you’re interested in this sort of thing, or watched the tv series, I would recommend this book.

3.5 stars rounded to 3.

[Bekah B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found Parole by Rob McKeon to be very interesting and thought provoking. I'm one of those people that didn't really know much at all about how a parole board functions and how they make their decisions so I was the perfect audience for this book. It was fascinating to read about different types of cases and all the information and thought processes that goes in to actually making the decision about a prisoner's release. I hadn't even known that the parole board sits as a court in it's own right, I though it was just a team meeting type scenario. So I have really learned a lot from this book. There were several references to the TV programme about the parole board that this author was involved in that I will now go and watch.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Ieva Valentinavičiūtė · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very interesting to look into what really happens during parole hearings. It’s easy to read and clearly explains how parole decisions are made, using different cases with a range of outcomes.
I especially appreciated learning about the factors taken into account when deciding whether a prisoner should be released or remain in custody to protect the public. The book also shows how safety plans are created for those who are released, and how these decisions balance fairness for the prisoner, the victims, and society as a whole.
It was also interesting to see how parole hearings have evolved over time, including the impact of COVID-19 on the process. One of the most important takeaways for me was just how crucial it is for those involved in the system to remain unbiased, relying on facts to ensure the fairest possible outcomes.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an audiobook for me and it was a great book. I love anything to do with police, prisoners and biographies so it was perfect.

I really enjoyed the way this was read too, Rob read it himself and didn't read it like he was reading a story he actually sounded like he was telling the stories. Each chapter is a different story from a different person who Rob worked with on the parole board. It was really interesting to hear the different stories, and find out the different outcomes from the parole hearings.

I've also watched the BBC programme Parole, which this is related to, and really enjoyed that, well worth a read, very interesting book.

[MR AP ROWDEN · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read

This is the first book of its kind that I have been able to read word for word even through lengthy explanations of processes and legalities due to the way it's written.
Rob McKeon's writing style makes you want to read the book thoroughly and left me wanting more, really, really enjoyed this book.

[Holly Nicolas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decisions of the parole board come under a lot of scrutiny, so it was definitely beneficial to understand how they come to certain decisions, even if it’s not popular. I really appreciated the transparency in the parole board operations and his recount of cases with impartiality and empathy

And also!! The ended was perfect, such a satisfying way to come full circle- chefs kiss

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having watched the series Parole on the television, this was a very interesting and insightful book to read. It was good to read more about the different types of cases that the parole board deal with and what goes on behind the scenes to help them conclude whether someone gets parole or not.

[A.A. Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for research, and found it very useful. As well as explaining the purpose and structure of Parole Board hearings, Rob goes through a number of case studies. It's a handy book for crime fiction writers, and very easy to read.

[Mel Merola · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book for those who are not familiar with the parole process, although it's a little self focused at times. For those who are familiar, it is fairly standard stuff. Useful to have something out there for the public to understand the process.

[Helen Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately archived before I got a chance to read as an ARC, sounds fascinating and definitely one to read in the future.

[Alice Golding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this as an audiobook - I love the bbc series and really enjoyed listening to this and learning more about how the parole board works