About The Board

History of Parole

The former Division of Parole was established in the Executive Department on July 1, 1930. At that time, a full-time Board of Parole comprised of three members was created and paroling functions for all the State prisons were transferred from the Department of Corrections to the Division of Parole. The training schools, correctional institutions for mentally disabled prisoners, and the women's reformatory maintained separate parole systems until 1945 when parole was consolidated throughout the state.

In 1967, the New York State legislature passed legislation establishing authority for the Board of Parole to grant conditional release of parole to persons under definite sentences and to persons incarcerated in local reformatories. This legislation also provided for the transfer of duties and functions of the New York City Parole Commission to the New York State Division of Parole.

On January 1, 1971, the Division of Parole was consolidated with the Department of Corrections to form the Department of Correctional Services (DOCS). This merger was based on the premise that a coordinated effort of institutional and community supervision of convicted offenders would be more effective in reducing recidivism.

Parole remained part of DOCS until January 1, 1978, when the Division was once again placed in the Executive Department as a separate agency through the Parole Reform Act of 1977. In addition to reestablishing the Division as a separate agency, the 1977 legislation mandated the formal adoption of Parole Guidelines designed to structure the Parole Board's decisions concerning the minimum period of imprisonment and the granting or denying of parole release.

In 2011, the New York State Department of Corrections and the New York State Division of Parole merged to form a new agency, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS). As a result of this merger, the New York State Board of Parole is now part of DOCCS with independent decision and rule making authority regarding the powers and duties as described in Article 12-B of the Executive Law.

Mission

To ensure public safety by granting community supervision when appropriate under the governing standards, revoking community supervision when necessary, and discharging individuals from their sentence when it is in the best interest of society.

Core Services

The New York State Board of Parole is responsible for discretionary release, parole conditions, and revocations, as well as receiving victim impact statements and clemency recommendations.

Darryl C. Towns, Chairman

Chairman Darryl C. Towns joined the Board in 2022, as the first member appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul. He comes to the Board from American Airlines, serving as Regional Director of Government Affairs.

His previous state service consists of Commissioner and CEO for New York State’s Homes and Community Renewal agency from 2011-2015. Prior to that, he served as a New York State Assemblymember for the 54^th district from 1993 – 2011.

During that tenure he spent time as Chair to the Banking, Veterans, Small Business and Science and Technology Committees, as well as the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Legislative Caucus.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and he is a veteran of the United States Air Force, in which he served from 1981-1986.

Board Members

The Board of Parole consists of 14 members. Each member is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate for a six-year term. One member is designated by the Governor to serve as Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Division. A brief biography of the Board of Parole members can be found here.

BOARD MEMBERS

Updated January

Member	Originally Appointed By	Date of Original Confirmation	Reappointment	Term Expires	Home Office
Darryl Towns	Hon. Kathy Hochul	June 2, 2022		December 31, 2025	NYC
Joseph P. Crangle	Hon. David A. Paterson	June 19, 2008	June 20, 2014	June 16, 2020	Buffalo
Marc Coppola	Hon. Andrew M. Cuomo	June 20, 2012	June 16, 2015	June 18, 2021	Buffalo
Otis Cruse	Hon. Andrew M. Cuomo	June 16, 2015	June 19, 2017	July 6, 2023	NYC
Tana Agostini	Hon. Andrew M. Cuomo	June 19, 2017		August 31, 2019	Albany
Erik Berliner	Hon. Andrew M. Cuomo	June 19, 2017		June 18, 2022	Albany
Tyece Drake	Hon. Andrew M. Cuomo	June 19, 2017		August 31, 2019	Albany
Caryne Demosthenes	Hon. Andrew M. Cuomo	June 19, 2017		June 2, 2023	NYC
Charles Davis	Hon. Andrew M. Cuomo	June 21, 2017		August 31, 2019	Albany
Michael Corley	Hon. Andrew M. Cuomo	June 20, 2019		June 18, 2023	NYC
Chanwoo Lee	Hon. Andrew M. Cuomo	June 20, 2019		July 7, 2023	NYC
Sheila Samuels	Hon. Andrew M. Cuomo	June 20, 2019		February 2, 2023	NYC
Carlton Mitchell	Hon. Andrew M. Cuomo	June 20, 2019		June 18, 2024	Albany
Elsie Segarra	Hon. Andrew M. Cuomo	June 20, 2019		June 18, 2024	NYC

Business Meeting Schedule

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF PAROLE BOARD BUSINESS MEETINGS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to section 104 of the N.Y. Public Officers Law that the Board of Parole will conduct its next monthly business meeting on Monday, March 27, 2023, at 1:00pm. Said meeting shall take place at the New York State Training Academy of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision located at 1134 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY, 12208 as well as Community Supervision offices at 460 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14202 and 314 West 40^th Street, New York, NY 10018. Please be advised, participation at the Buffalo and Manhattan locations are subject to change. To confirm availability of participation at these locations please call the Board of Parole at 518-473-4069.

Thereafter, the Board of Parole shall commence at 1:00 p.m., in the afternoon its monthly business meetings in a manner to be determined, on the following dates:

April Monday, April 24^th

May Monday, May 22^nd

June Monday, June 26^th

July Monday, July 31^st

August Monday, August 28^th

September Monday, September 25^th

October Monday, October 23^rd
November Monday, November 27^th

December Monday, December TBD

Said business meetings may be adjourned from time to time as necessary.

Darryl Towns, Chairman

Board of Parole