STATE BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES
The Georgia Constitution provides that Parole Board Members are to be appointed by the Governor to seven year staggered terms, subject to confirmation by the State Senate. Board Members are full-time state employees from various professions including criminal justice, elected office and private business.
In 1943, the Board was established through a constitutional amendment and consisted of three members. In 1973, as the prison population rose to 9,000, the Constitution was amended to increase the Board to five members. Today, as the inmate population exceeds 50,000, the Board still consists of five voting members.
In Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15), the Board Members made more than 69,000 clemency decisions. Georgia's percentage of parolees successfully completing parole in FY15 was 68%. The national average was approximately 59%.
The State Board of Pardons and Paroles is the only entity in Georgia with the constitutional authority to commute a death sentence. The Governor does not have this authority in Georgia. Additionally, the Board is also the sole authority in the state to make informed decisions on which state inmates are deserving of parole, thereby ensuring that the state's prison beds are dedicated to the offenders who have committed the most serious crimes.
Parole hearings are not conducted in Georgia. Board Members review the comprehensive case file of the offender and each member then makes his decision. Learn more about the clemency process beginning on page 18.
The Board conducts monthly Board Meetings at which policy decisions are made. Offender cases are not discussed nor are parole decisions made at the monthly Board Meetings.
(photos: Board conducting monthly meetings)
The State Board of Pardons and Paroles is the only entity in Georgia with the constitutional authority to commute a death sentence. The Governor does not have this authority in Georgia. Additionally, the Board is also the sole authority in the state to make informed decisions on which state inmates are deserving of parole, thereby ensuring that the state's prison beds are dedicated to the offenders who have committed the most serious crimes.
Parole hearings are not conducted in Georgia. Board Members review the comprehensive case file of the offender and each member then makes his decision. Learn more about the clemency process beginning on page 18.
The Board conducts monthly Board Meetings at which policy decisions are made. Offender cases are not discussed nor are parole decisions made at the monthly Board Meetings.