The Parole Board is an independent organization and is not a part of the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR). Parole Services and Parole Officers are a part of DCR and any questions or concerns regarding issues with them should be addressed to DCR.
The Parole Board is made up of nine Board Members appointed by the Governor with consent of the WV Senate. In addition, the Governor appoints 5 substitute Board Members.
The Parole Board holds monthly parole hearings at each of the Department of Corrections facilities in the state. These hearings are by video teleconferencing. All hearings are held by teleconferencing at all correctional facilities and the regional jails.
The Parole Board also conducts Parole Revocation hearings as required by law by video teleconferencing multiple days every month.
The parole and revocation hearings are conducted by a three member panel on a rotating basis to each of the facilities.
The West Virginia Parole Board, as an integral part of West Virginia’s Criminal Justice System, makes independent, quality, conditional releases of adult offenders. The Board contributes to the protection of society by making informed decisions facilitating, as appropriate, the timely integration of offenders back into the community. Further, the Board determines which violations of parole conditions are serious enough to warrant return of the offender back to prison. It also makes recommendations to the Governor for adult offenders who petition for pardons or other clemency.