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Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision
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About Us

Vision Statement​

A Safe and Just Oregon 
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Mission Statement

 
We support a safe and just Oregon by protecting citizens’ rights and promoting positive offender change while maintaining accountability. Through engagement of partners, development of efficient policies, and respect for diversity, our strong, valued workforce strives for a better future for our state.
 

  

Organization
 
With a total agency staff of 28 and a biennial budget of approximately $7.8 million, the Board fulfills its public-safety role in a professional and exemplary manner.  Guided by the values embodied in the Oregon Constitution, the Board works in partnership with other criminal justice agencies to protect the public and reduce the risk of repeat criminal behavior through incarceration and community supervision decisions based on applicable laws, victims’ interests, public safety, and recognized principles of offender behavioral change.
 
Major functions performed by the board and program staff include: set parole and release dates for offenders who committed felony crimes prior to November 1, 1989; determine when, or if, offenders sentenced as "dangerous offenders" or for murder or aggravated murder who are eligible for parole, should be released from prison; establish conditions of community supervision (parole and post-prison supervision) for all offenders being released from prison; issue arrest warrants for absconders and sanctioning violators of community supervision; notify victims of hearings and releases; respond to public, media and offender inquiries; respond to offender requests for administrative review; adopt administrative procedures and rules in accordance with statutory and policy changes; assess and classify those convicted of sex offenses for community notification.
 
Annual Performance Measures 
 
Annual Manager Report 
 
 
Board History Summary
1905 Governor given power to parole prisoners. Courts given sentencing guidelines for bench parole.
 
1911 State Parole Board established with 3 members. First Parole Board appointed by the Governor.
 
1915 Board increased to 5 members.  Office of Parole Officer created.
 
1917 Board was reduced to 3 members. One member is the secretary to the Governor, the other two appointed by the Governor.
1931 Modern Probation Act passed. State Probation Commission established.
 
1939 New Board of Parole and Probation created, Director of Parole and Probation position authorized.
 
1941 Board given powers to establish rules covering parole of all offenders confined in Oregon for 6 months or more.
 
1959 Board increased to 5 members and terms changed to 5 years. No more than 2 members could belong to the same political party.
 
1969 Board became full-time paid agency. Membership reduced to 3 and appointed by Governor to 4 year terms.
 
1975 Board increased to 5 members, at least 1 member must be a woman.
 
1981 Governor given power to appoint 1 member as chairperson and 1 as vice-chair.
 
1989 Board name changed to State Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision. Parole abolished and sentencing guidelines enacted for felonies committed after November 1, 1989.
 
1991 Board membership changed to at least 3 but not more than 5 members.
 
2013 Sex offender risk assessment community notification levels established by Legislature. Department of Corrections directed to establish risk assessment tool.
 
2015 Board begins to complete sex offender risk assessments for all convicted and registered sex offenders in Oregon.
 
Images of Board historical documents
 
Programs
The Board holds release authority over approximately 10 percent of the Department of Corrections inmate population (this includes those convicted of felony crimes committed prior to November 1, 1989, as well as those sentenced for murder and aggravated murder who are eligible for parole and anyone sentenced as a “dangerous offenders,” regardless of crime date). The Board also is responsible for setting conditions of supervision for all offenders being released from Oregon prisons, imposing sanctions for violations, and determining whether discharge from supervision is compatible with public safety.
 
Additionally, the Board is responsible for determining, via a risk assessment, the level of community notification required for anyone who must register with Oregon’s sex offender registry, and has the discretion to order changes to notification levels or relief from registration for certain registrants.
 
Board members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate to four-year terms. The Governor names the chair and vice chair. The full-time Board was authorized in 1969. The Board has statutory authority for up to five members.

Program Description

​Post-Prison Supervision is a sentence of correctional supervision in the community following a prison or jail sentence for offenders with convictions that have a crime commitment date on or after November 1, 1989. For most of these crimes, the sentencing court and the Department of Corrections (using statutory guidelines) establish the length of prison terms. The Board determines the conditions of supervision.
 
Parole is a period of supervision in the community following release from prison for offenders with convictions that have a crime commitment date before November 1, 1989, as well as those who have been sentenced as dangerous offenders, and those convicted of murder or aggravated murder who are eligible for parole. Offenders on parole are released from prison by the Board before their sentences are completed, and serve the remainder of the sentence under community supervision.

   

 
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