Parole Board for Scotland

7 Dec 2009 04:49 PM

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice today announced the appointment of three new general members and one psychiatrist member to the Parole Board for Scotland.

The new general members are:

Elizabeth Gilchrist - Elizabeth Gilchrist is a Registered Forensic Psychologist and Professor in Forensic Psychology at Glasgow Caledonian University. Her primary research interest is in the area of domestic violence, with particular focus on risk assessment. She has been involved in training post graduate forensic psychologists since 1996 and is a member of various forensic and professional committees within the British Psychological Society. Professor Gilchrist is also recognised as an expert in the area of domestic violence and child protection, a member of the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research and is a recognised training provider for the Risk Management Authority. Professor Gilchrist is a part-time psychologist member of the Parole Board for England and Wales and receives a daily fee of £332 for this work.

Frank Chalmers - Frank Chalmers was born in Kirkcaldy and educated at Kirkcaldy High School. He joins the Parole Board from Fife Council, most recently employed as a Senior Practitioner in Criminal Justice Social Work Services. Mr Chalmers has worked in social work for the past thirty years in a variety of fields. He has some thirteen years experience in Criminal Justice Social Work and seven years working with Addictions in an NHS setting. He brings to the Board a wealth of experience in working with, and managing, offenders in the community. Mr Chalmers holds no other Ministerial appointments.

David Martin - A former police officer David Martin recently retired after 31 years with Strathclyde Police. During his police career he served in both North and South Lanarkshire local authority areas before transferring to Glasgow. A graduate of law from Strathclyde University he worked his way through the ranks to become Divisional Commander in 2 city divisions before being appointed to the Force Executive. As Assistant Chief Constable his wide and varied portfolio included Community Safety and Criminal Justice business areas. Mr. Martin has served on a number of multi-agency bodies including Glasgow Community Justice Authority, Glasgow Community Planning Strategic Group and Glasgow Criminal Justice Board. Mr Martin holds no other Ministerial appointments.

The new psychiatrist member is:

Dr David Will - Dr Will graduated in Medicine from Edinburgh University and then undertook specialist training in adolescent psychiatry. He worked as a consultant, first in Tayside and then at the Young Peoples' Unit, The Royal Edinburgh Hospital. He was a policy advisor in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Scottish Executive and since 2005 has been a medical member of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland and receives a daily fee of £387 for this work.

These appointments run from December 1, 2009 and end on October 31, 2016. The posts are part-time and attract daily fees of £192 (general members) and £299 (psychiatrist member) for a time commitment of 8-12 days per month.

The Parole Board is a key component of the criminal justice system in Scotland. It is responsible for putting into effect the requirements of the law in relation to early release on licence, recall to prison and, as appropriate, re-release of long term (offenders sentenced to imprisonment for four years or more), extended sentence and life sentence prisoners.

These Ministerial public appointments were made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Within the last five years the appointed new members have not been involved in any political activity.