DOC-PA Parole Board Consolidation

On October 19, 2017, Governor Tom Wolf announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Corrections (DOC) and Pennsylvania Parole Board (then the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole), resulting in the combination of the agencies’ similar, shared and overlapping resources and functions, while keeping both agencies separate. However, the community supervision of parolees and all other reentry services are now combined under a new, centralized chain of command that everyone in those areas will report to and follow.

The consolidation is a part of Governor Wolf’s plan to eliminate bureaucratic redundancies while still allowing the agencies to serve their individual missions. By combining similar reentry and parole supervision duties and responsibilities, officials now can fine-tune and focus their efforts as they relate to reentry. This move, while saving taxpayer dollars, also allows for better and more timely record-sharing, allows for consistent delivery of reentry programming, better employee communications and training and better transition via a smooth handoff to community parole agents and supervisors.

The MOU is expected to save a considerable amount of money and resources for each agency. The Parole Board itself, the Sexual Offender Assessment Board and the Office of Victim Advocate will continue to operate independently of the consolidated agencies.

Key Documents