The Board of Parole’s primary task for many hearings is to determine an individual’s efforts towards rehabilitation and the person’s current level of risk to reoffend. In the limited circumstances where the Board is tasked to determine an individual’s prison term, the Board is bound by strict sentencing rules that were in effect at the time when the crime was committed.
Prior to making a release decision, the Board of Parole will order that an individual participate in a psychological evaluation that includes an evaluation and an assessment for risk of reoffending. The Board of Parole uses the psychological evaluation and other available information along with experience and professional judgment in making final paroling decisions. Our contracted psychologists utilize multiple validated risk assessments in their evaluations to assess risk of future criminal behavior.
Lastly, the Board has the authority to return a limited number of people on supervision back to prison if they violate the conditions of their supervision. In such circumstances, the Board will determine the severity of the violations and the appropriate amount of time that is necessary to hold the person in custody to protect the safety of the public.
*Notice regarding upcoming hearings on or after 5/7/2025. Read the following instructions for details, including instructions on how to attend in person*
Under Board administrative rules, the Board may schedule hearings to occur in-person, and in its discretion, approve participation via telecommunication. For Board of Parole hearings on or after 5/7/2025, Board hearings will occur in-person within the Oregon Department of Corrections at either the Oregon State Penitentiary or the Oregon State Correctional Institution. The public notices for each hearing will specify the institution the hearing will be held at. The following persons described in OAR 255-030-0026 may appear and participate in Board hearings and may be provided access to participate via a video conference link to the hearing, or may participate in person:
- Victims and their representatives
- District Attorney representatives
- Adult in custody support persons who will provide a statement at the hearing
Victims should contact the Board’s Victims’ Specialist at
503-945-0907 for additional information on how they can participate. Support persons who wish to accompany an AIC in-person may request to do so as provided under OAR 255-030-0026(2). Additionally, support persons who reside out of the state of Oregon, or who desire to provide a statement in support of the AIC at the hearing under OAR 255-030-0026(2), may also request to do so remotely under OAR 255-030-0026(2).
District Attorney representatives, and AIC support persons who intend to provide a statement at the hearing should contact the Board’s Hearings Specialist at
971-718-6163 for additional information.
As provided in OAR 255-030-0026, members of the public are welcome to attend the hearing in-person.
The Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision is committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities have access to participate or attend Board hearings. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires all public entities to take reasonable steps to allow qualified persons with disabilities to access to Board programs, services, and activities offered by the public entity. If you wish to request an accommodation under the ADA, you are encouraged to do so by contacting the Board’s Hearings Specialist at
971-718-6163 or via email at
BPPPS.Webmaster@paroleboard.oregon.gov.
Important: Any member of the public who wishes to attend a Board hearing in the Department of Corrections is subject to advanced screening and following Department of Corrections policy and procedures for visitation.
If you are interested in observing a Board hearing in person, please fill out the following form in advance of the hearing and submit it to the Board Hearings Specialist.
The following documents provide additional information on what members of the public should expect when observing a hearing in person and Department of Corrections attendance requirements: