Over its nearly 100-year history, the Board's role in the public safety system has grown and changed. The Board has release authority over approximately 10 percent of the inmates in the custody of the Department of Corrections. Beyond this, the Board has jurisdiction over more than 27,000 offenders, responsible for setting conditions of supervision for all offenders releasing from prison and for issuing orders related to offenders' transition to, and supervision in, the community.

With a total agency staff of 15 and a biennial budget of approximately $4 million, the Board fulfills its public-safety role in a professional and exemplary manner. Guided by the values embodied in the Oregon Constitution, the Board works in partnership with other criminal justice agencies to protect the public and reduce the risk of repeat criminal behavior through incarceration and community supervision decisions based on applicable laws, victims' interest, public safety, and recognized principles of offender behavioral change.

To learn more about the Board and its responsibilities, please explore the presentation linked below, and the other information and publications on this website.

Respectfully,

Steven R. Powers, Chairperson
April 2009