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 Governor Paterson has withdrawn a previous recommendation to reduce the number of parole commissioners from 19 to 13.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)
