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 54th 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 17 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

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

NYC

Elsie Segarra

Hon. Andrew M. Cuomo

June 20, 2019

 

June 18, 2024

Albany

Ana Enright 

Hon. Kathy Hochul

June 9, 2023

 

July 6, 2029

NYC

Erin McCabe 

Hon. Kathy Hochul

June 9, 2023

 

May 4, 2025

Buffalo

Brandon Stradford 

Hon. Kathy Hochul

June 9, 2023

 

February 6, 2025 

NYC

Donna Henken 

Hon. Kathy Hochul

June 9, 2023

 

June 8, 2028

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’s monthly business meeting previously schedule for Monday, August 28th, 2023 has been CANCELLED. The next meeting shall take place on Monday, September 25th, 2023 at 1:00pm 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 40th Street, New York, NY 10018. The meeting will also be live streamed via WebEx at  the below address. 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.

https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/j.php?MTID=m6ed5bd70bfc970e146e32cae99ecafab

          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:

          

October               TBD 
November           TBD

December           TBD

 

         

                                                                             Darryl C. Towns, Chairman

                                                                             Board of Parole

 

 

Upcoming Meetings

September 25, 2023 Business Meeting 

Business Meeting Agenda 

Past Meetings

July 24, 2023 Business Meeting 

Business Meeting Agenda

Drafted Meeting Minutes

July 2023 Board of Parole Monthly Meeting Video 

July 2023 Meeting Transcript 

 

June 12, 2023 Business Meeting 

Business Meeting Agenda

Drafted Meeting Minutes 

Rule Text - Hearing Locations 

June 2023 Board of Parole Monthly Meeting Video 

June 2023 Meeting Transcript 

 

April 24, 2023 Business Meeting

 

March 6, 2023 Business Meeting

 

January 2023 Parole Board Public Business Meeting Agenda

 

December 2022 Board of Parole Business Meeting Agenda

 

November 2022 Board of Parole Business Meeting Agenda

 

October 21, 2022 Business Meeting

 

September 26, 2022 Business Meeting

 

August 22, 2022 Business Meeting

Board of Parole Business Meeting Agenda

August 22, 2022 Business Meeting Webcast

Approved Meeting Minutes

 

June 27, 2022 Business Meeting

 

May 2, 2022 Business Meeting

 

March 28, 2022 Business Meeting

 

February 28, 2022 Business Meeting

 

February 7, 2022 Special Meeting

 

January 31, 2022 Business Meeting

 

November 22, 2021 Business Meeting

 

September 20, 2021 Business Meeting Webcast

 

June 21, 2021 Business Meeting Webcast

 

May 24, 2021 Business Meeting Webcast

 

April 19, 2021 Business Meeting Webcast

 

March 22, 2021 Business Meeting Webcast

 

February 22, 2021 Business Meeting Webcast

 

January 25, 2021 Business Meeting Webcast

 

November 24, 2020 Business Meeting Webcast

 

October 19, 2020 Business Meeting Webcast

 

August 24, 2020 Business Meeting Webcast

 

February 24, 2020 Business Meeting Webcast

 

January 27, 2020 Business Meeting Webcast

 

December 9, 2019 Business Meeting Webcast

 

October 21, 2019 Business Meeting Webcast

 

September 23, 2019 Business Meeting Webcast

Contact Information

Mailing Address
New York State Board of Parole
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12226
Phone
518-486-5477