Governor David A. Paterson today announced the nomination of Felix M. Rosa, Jr. to serve as a Member and Chair of the State Board of Parole. As Chair of the Board of Parole, Mr. Rosa will also serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the State Division of Parole. Mr. Rosa has served the Division of Parole for more than 20 years.
Mr. Rosa was appointed Executive Director of the New York State Division of Parole in April 2007. In this role, Mr. Rosa was responsible for the day-to-day management of the agency, led the development and integration of re-entry programs for the Division and played a primary role in increasing efficiency within the Division of Parole and a number of State agencies with which it interacts.
From 2003 until 2007, Mr. Rosa served as Director of Executive Clemency and Secretary to the Board of Parole where he oversaw requests for executive clemency, certificates of relief from disabilities and certificates of good conduct. He also managed the day-to-day operations of the Board of Parole and Victim Impact Unit.
From 1999 through 2003, Mr. Rosa served as Executive Assistant to the Executive Director, establishing a number of programs that continue to be an integral part of the agency including Harlem Re-Entry Court, DNA collection, technology-based access to criminal records information and the Division’s photo identification system.
Mr. Rosa served from 1993 until 1999 as a Senior Parole Officer in various units throughout the Division including the Juvenile Offender Unit, Staff Development Unit, Office of Professional Responsibility and Central Office Operations. Prior to that role, Mr. Rosa served as a Parole Revocation Specialist and was a Parole Officer from 1987 until 1990.
Mr. Rosa was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and immigrated to the United States at the age of two. His family settled in Washington Heights, New York and he became a naturalized citizen at the age of 10. He returned to the Dominican Republic to attend high school at Colegio Dominicano De la Salle.
Upon his return to the United States, Mr. Rosa earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1982 and a Masters in Social Work from Fordham University in 1987.
Mr. Rosa has four sons and lives in the Albany area with his wife, Jodi. He is the Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 75 in Delmar and has served on the board of Hispanic Outreach Services in Albany.
The Board of Parole’s primary duties include making determinations on whether to release inmates eligible for parole, setting parole conditions for individuals released by the Board or conditionally released by statute, and revoking parole for those who violate the conditions of their release. Additionally, at the Governor’s request, the Board may interview applicants for clemency and provide recommendations to the Governor.
The Division of Parole operates 30 field offices in addition to on-site offices in each of the 69 New York State correctional facilities and the Willard Drug Treatment Campus. The Division employs approximately 2,200 people including 1,200 peace officers who manage the parole supervision of 45,000 formerly incarcerated individuals within New York State. Each year, approximately 26,000 individuals are released to parole supervision.
As Chair of the Board of Parole, Mr. Rosa’s salary will be $120,800. This appointment requires Senate confirmation.
