Lawmakers: fix racial disparity on Parole Board

Extract from a NY Daily News article:

ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo is taking heat from minority lawmakers for not renewing the term of the lone black male on the state Parole Board.

Henry Lemons, a former deputy chief investigator in the state attorney general's office and longtime Brooklyn prosecutor, was cut loose when his six-year term expired recently.

Members of the Legislature's Black and Latino Caucus have bemoaned the disparity that exists between the board's membership and the general population of state inmates. Records show that 49% of all state prison inmates are black, and of that number, 93% are men.

Lemons' departure means that Chairwoman Andrea Evans is the only black representative out of the 11 current members of the board.

No reason was given for the decision not to reappoint Lemons, who was initially selected by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

"I have spoken to the governor in sharing my displeasure," said Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson, a Bronx Democrat and member of the caucus.

Sen. Eric Adams, a Brooklyn Democrat and a former NYPD cop, also spoke of the need for a black man on the board: "It's almost crucial that you have that representation."

Minority lawmakers are said to be particularly upset that four Parole Board members originally appointed by ex-Republican Gov. George Pataki were kept on after their terms expired last year...

For complete article, see:
Lawmakers: fix racial disparity on Parole Board, by Kenneth Lovett (NY Daily News, July 3 2012)

Five new members appointed to the New York State Board of Parole

Five new members of the New York State Board of Parole have been approved by the Senate Standing Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction, Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Chair. Governor Paterson has withdrawn a previous recommendation to reduce the number of parole commissioners from 19 to 13.

On Thursday, June 17, 2010 the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction approved the following nominations:
Henry Lemons, as a Member of the State Board of Parole.
Edward M. Sharkey, as a Member of the State Board of Parole.
Lynn Anne Tabbott, as a Member of the State Board of Parole.
Seny Taveras, as a Member of the State Board of Parole.
Nicholas A. LaBella, as a Member of the Citizen’s Policy and Review Council.
See video of the hearing

On Monday, June 28, 2010, the Committee approved the nomination of Richard J. Clarke to the State Board of Parole.
See video of the hearing

N.B. These appointments have not yet been confirmed by the full Senate.

The Prison Action Network has gathered together further details about the new parole commissioners, including disturbing details about Senator Martin J. Golden's attitude during the hearings "... in particular when he asked each nominee if they would vote to release a person who killed a police officer, and then followed it by asking for their personal opinion about ever releasing someone who killed a police officer."

See also:
Gov. Paterson appoints party loyalists to cushy Parole Board jobs with salaries over $100,000 (New York Daily News, July 13 2010)

Shu'aib A. Raheem wins parole release from prison

Amid the ongoing controversy over the parole release of violent criminals and the injustice and inconsistencies inherent in New York State's Parole Statute, Shu'aib A. Raheem has won his release from prison. His particular case has caused much dispute but finally, at his rescission hearing on Thursday June 3rd, the Parole Board voted 2 to 1 to free him. According to officials, Parole Board members Thomas Grant and Debra Loomis voted for his release, while Henry Lemons voted against it. Raheem will be freed no later than July 8th.

Senate Republicans, led by Senator Martin Golden, reacted to the news of Raheem's parole release by immediately joining with police organizations to call for stronger parole laws.

The Paterson administration gave a swift response: "Sen. Golden's comments are outrageous and he owes Governor Paterson and his administration an apology," said Paterson spokesman Morgan Hook. "The two Parole Board members who voted in favor of releasing Shu'aib Raheem are Pataki appointees. Both of their terms expire this month and they will both be replaced by Gov. Paterson."

Further details may be found in the following articles:
On June 3, Shu'aib Raheem was granted parole release for the second time in three years (Building Bridges, June 13 2010)
Golden says Paterson Admin has blood on its hands over parolee (NY Daily News, June 8 2010)
Senate Republicans join with police organizations to call for stronger parole laws (New York State Senate, June 8 2010)
'What the hell WERE they thinking?' Parole idiots suck up to '73 cop killer Shuaib Raheem (NY Daily News, June 5 2010)
Cop-killer on the roam (New York Post, June 5 2010)
Parole for Police Officer's Killer (NY Times, June 4 2010)
Shu'aib Raheem, who killed NYPD cop in 1973 botched robbery, to be released from prison (NY Daily News, June 4 2010)

Six Months, Four Parole Board Chairs

"In a move that went largely overlooked (and was likely intended to be, given the fact that it was made at 5:30 p.m. on the Friday before a three-day holiday weekend), Gov. David Paterson announced his latest nominee to chair the state Parole Board: Andrea Evans.

If she is confirmed by the state Senate for the $120,800-a-year job, Evans will be the fourth person tapped for the post since December 2008, and Paterson's third appointee..."

Read the full story in the Daily Politics blog by Elizabeth Benjamin, NY Daily News, May 25 2009.

Parolee information now available on the NYS Division of Parole website

PAROLEE INFORMATION NOW AVAILABLE ON PAROLE WEBSITE: Public can access parole supervision status of individuals

(The New York State Division of Parole "Parolee Lookup" feature may be found here; further information may be found here.)

Press release from the NYS Division of Parole, March 11th 2009

Henry Lemons, interim chairman of the New York State Division of Parole today announced the launch of a new “parolee lookup” feature on the Division’s website, http://www.parole.state.ny.us/. The public can now access real-time information on the parole status of those currently under supervision as well as those who have completed their supervision.

“Victims, members of law enforcement, state and federal criminal justice agencies and family members routinely have questions about the status of an individual’s parole supervision,” Lemons said. “By creating this valuable online tool, people can have access to this important information 24 hours a day.”

After entering specific information about a person under parole supervision such as a name or identification number, the public will be able to search for details about that individual’s parole status. Data that is available includes the county where the crime was committed, crime of conviction, the date parole supervision began, the status of parole supervision, the address of the parole office that an individual reports to as well as the name and contact telephone number for the parole officer overseeing the case.

The addition of the look-up feature on the website is part of the Division’s goal to make its work more transparent and readily available to the public. It follows the 2008 online addition of the Parole Board interview schedule that allows users to look back at Parole Board determinations over a two year period, and locate the parole interview dates of persons that are scheduled to come before the Board in the next four months.

Governor David A. Paterson appoints Henry Lemons, Jr. as interim Chair of the New York State Board of Parole

Governor David A. Paterson today announced the appointment of Henry “Hank” Lemons, Jr. to serve as interim Chair of the New York State Board of Parole and interim Chief Executive Officer for the Division of Parole. Mr. Lemons, who has served as a member of the Board of Parole since 2007, will fulfill the role of former Chairman George B. Alexander until a new chair and CEO is confirmed by the New York State Senate.

In 2007, Mr. Lemons was unanimously confirmed by the State Senate for his position as member of the Board of Parole. He served from 2004 to 2007 as Deputy Chief Investigator for the New York State Attorney General. Prior to that post, he was the Assistant Chief Investigator for the Kings County District Attorney. Mr. Lemons is a former Sergeant and Detective with the New York City Police Department. He also served for four years of active duty with the United States Air Force.

Mr. Lemons earned his bachelor’s in criminal justice and planning from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and his master’s in organizational leadership from Mercy College. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Mr. Lemons was raised in the Bedford – Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn and Queens, where he still resides.

The Board of Parole’s major responsibilities include determining release dates for inmates serving indeterminate prison terms, establishing conditions of release for inmates who are paroled and revoking parole when it is determined that a releasee has violated those conditions.

The Board of Parole consists of up to 19 members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate for a six-year term. One member is designated by the Governor to serve as chairman and chief executive officer of the division. Those positions were held by Mr. Alexander until his resignation in December.

Executive Director Felix M. Rosa Jr. had been nominated to succeed Mr. Alexander. Mr. Rosa withdrew his name from consideration last week.

As interim Chair of the Board of Parole, Mr. Lemons’ salary will be $120,800.