Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Ohio Parole Board

Mission

The Ohio Parole Board determines release suitability of eligible offenders serving indefinite sentences, and post-release supervision terms of offenders serving definite sentences through decisions that promote fairness, objectivity, and public safety and are responsive to the concerns of victims, members of the community, and other persons within the criminal justice system.

The Ohio Parole Board consists of eight members whose primary duty entails conducting release consideration hearings on all parole eligible inmates. These hearings are held every month from the institutions, with a Parole Member(s) conducting a personal interview with each parole eligible inmate. If parole is denied at the initial hearing, the Parole Board establishes a future release date or a subsequent hearing date. In making release decisions, the board is mandated by Administrative Regulation 5120:1-1-07 to consider certain factors. A full description of the release hearing process is contained in the Ohio Parole Board Handbook.

The Board also participates in offender conference and victim conference days each month, providing victims and/or their representatives and offender families and/or their representatives an opportunity to exchange information with the Parole Board prior to an inmate’s release consideration hearing.

Although the outcome of all parole hearings is public information, institutional parole release hearings and deliberations are closed to the public. However, effective July 1, 1996, Senate Bill 2 created Full Board Open Hearings which permitted participation by a victim and/or other designated interested parties in a hearing subsequent to the institutional hearing. Full Board Hearings are generally held in those cases where parole is proposed and the victim, victim’s family member or representative petitions the Board through the Office of Victim Services to hold the Full Board hearing to oppose the potential release. Petitions for a Full Board Hearing for offenders serving a sentence for Aggravated Murder or Murder are automatically accepted as mandated by Ohio Revised Code 5149.10.1.  Full Board Hearings are conducted at the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction's central office in Columbus.

The Board also considers applications for clemency in the form of a pardon, commutation or reprieve. All applications are reviewed and examined by the Board to determine the propriety of clemency, with a recommendation being forwarded to the Governor. Executive clemency can only be granted by the Governor.

Additional Duties

Effective July 1, 1996, Senate Bill 2, the "truth in sentencing" legislation, made some changes affecting the Parole Board. Inmates convicted prior to July 1, 1996 continue to be reviewed on all indeterminate sentences for the propriety of release to the community. Most offenders who commit crimes after July 1, 1996, are released at the end of their determinate sentences. The Parole Board assesses these offenders for placement on post release control supervision upon their release from prison. This duty of the Board is performed by its staff of Hearing Officers.

The Hearing Officers also conduct release violation hearings when offenders on either parole or post release control violate the conditions of supervision and a return to the institution is sought by the Adult Parole Authority. These hearings are conducted in the various county jails and Adult Parole Authority offices throughout the state.

[Parole Board Monthly Reports]

Conditions of Supervision

The Parole Board can impose special conditions for an offender approved for release on parole, transitional control or post release control such as treatment/programming conditions, residency in a halfway house and drug testing. Parole Officers can add any justifiable condition to the Board’s requirements with the approval of a supervisor. Parole Officers cannot rescind any condition placed on the offender by the Parole Board without the Board’s approval.

Offender Conference

One day each month is scheduled for offenders’ families to meet with Parole Board staff. Offender conferences are conducted regionally in most major metropolitan areas.  The conferences afford interested parties the opportunity to exchange information with the Parole Board prior to the inmate’s hearing.

To request an offender conference, please contact the Parole Board at 614-752-1200 or toll-free at 1-888-344-1441.

Vision Statement:

The Ohio Parole Board strives to ensure fairness and systemic participation in all levels of decision making by focusing on timeliness, consistency, and clarity.  Furthermore, the Ohio Parole Board seeks to promote successful offender reentry by maintaining contact with offenders during their supervision to not only intervene and address violation behavior, but to acknowledge and support compliance and accomplishments.

Value Statement:

The Ohio Parole Board serves offenders, victims, community members and other interested parties within the criminal justice system by promoting fair and objective decision making to help achieve understanding of and participation in its statutory duties.  By doing this, the Ohio Parole Board helps the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction achieve transparency in decision making by promoting public confidence in its processes.

 

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