(a) Establishment.--The Pennsylvania Parole Board is established as an independent administrative board for the purpose of granting and revoking paroles to certain offenders within this Commonwealth. The board shall function independently of the department regarding all of the board's decision-making functions, as well as any other powers and duties specified in this title.
(b) Membership.--The board shall consist of nine members who shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of a majority of the members of the Senate, and each of whom shall hold office for a term of six years or until that person's successor shall have been duly appointed and qualified, but in no event more than 90 days beyond the expiration of that person's appointed term.
(c) Vacancies.--
(1) Vacancies occurring in an office of a member of the board by expiration of term, death, resignation, removal or for any other reason shall be filled in the manner provided by section 8 of Article IV of the Constitution of Pennsylvania for the remainder of the term.
(2) Whenever a board member's term expires, that member's position shall be immediately deemed a vacancy, and the Governor shall nominate a person to fill that membership position on the board within 90 days of the date of expiration, even if the member continues to remain on the board.
(d) Eligibility.--To be eligible to be appointed by the Governor for membership on the board, an individual shall have at least six years of professional experience in parole, probation, social work or related areas, including one year in a supervisory or administrative capacity, and a bachelor's degree. Any equivalent combination of experience and training shall be acceptable.
(e) General powers.--Subject to the provisions of this chapter, the board shall have all the powers and shall perform the duties generally vested in and imposed upon independent administrative boards and commissions by the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, and shall be subject to all the provisions of that act applicable generally to independent administrative boards and commissions.
(Dec. 18, 2019, P.L.776, No.115, eff. 60 days; June 30, 2021, P.L.260, No.59, eff. imd.)
2021 Amendment. Act 59 amended subsec. (a).
2019 Amendment. Act 115 amended the section heading and subsec. (a).
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 61 - Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole
Section 6102 - Operation of parole system generally
Section 6111 - Pennsylvania Parole Board
Section 6112 - Board chairperson
Section 6114 - Salaries of board members
Section 6115 - Incompatible offices and removal
Section 6119 - District directors (Repealed)
Section 6120 - District office employees (Repealed)
Section 6121 - Disciplinary action (Repealed)
Section 6122 - Political activities
Section 6123 - Advisory committee (Repealed)
Section 6124 - Certain offenders residing in group-based homes (Repealed)
Section 6131 - General powers of board
Section 6132 - Specific powers of board involving offenders
Section 6133 - Probation services (Repealed)
Section 6134 - Sentencing court recommendation
Section 6134.1 - General criteria for parole by court
Section 6135 - Investigation of circumstances of offense
Section 6136 - Right of access to offenders
Section 6137.1 - Short sentence parole
Section 6137.2 - Reentry supervision
Section 6138 - Violation of terms of parole
Section 6139 - Parole procedure
Section 6140 - Victim statements, testimony and participation in hearing
Section 6141 - General rules and special regulations
Section 6142 - Investigations for the Board of Pardons
Section 6143 - Early parole of offenders subject to Federal removal order
Section 6161 - Parolee Homicide Review Team
Section 6163 - Confidentiality
Section 6171 - Powers and duties of department
Section 6171.1 - District offices
Section 6171.2 - District directors
Section 6171.3 - District office employees
Section 6172 - Probation services
Section 6173 - Investigation of circumstances of offense
Section 6174 - Right of access to offenders
Section 6175 - Investigations for the Board of Pardons