Parole board outlines hearing process, victim-notification and panel rules after HB 529 relief

Ledra Jones, chair of the Kentucky Parole Board, briefed lawmakers on how the board conducts parole hearings, patient-review methods and victim-notification practices following recent legislative adjustments.

"Our goal is to balance justice with public safety," Jones said in opening remarks, outlining statutory constraints, the distinction between face-to-face hearings and file reviews, and how eligibility is calculated by statute and DOC recommendations.

Operational details: the parole board has nine members appointed by the governor and now generally conducts hearings in two-member panels that require unanimous panel decisions; if a panel cannot reach unanimity, the case goes to the full board and a two-thirds vote of the full board is required. Jones described file reviews for lower-level nonviolent offenders and face-to-face (often video) hearings for more serious violent or sex offenses.

Victims' role and notifications: Jones said victims and Commonwealth attorneys receive a 45-day notice of hearings and may submit written impact statements; victims can also request to speak during the hearing week and parole staff will notify them of decisions. She described a reconsideration process — not an appeal — that allows an offender or counsel to ask the board to re-review a matter when new information or alleged procedural issues are presented.

Compensation and staffing: Jones said board-member pay has increased in recent years but remains lower than comparable boards in other states; she cited current annual salaries of roughly the mid-to-high $80,000s for members and about $94,000 for the chair. She also thanked lawmakers for passage of House Bill 529, which the board said provided immediate relief.

What’s next: Jones offered to provide additional statistics and said the board schedules its next regular meeting and victim-hearings on Mondays, with panel hearings throughout the week. Lawmakers asked about quality assurance and consistency checks for two-member panels; Jones said statutory rules and a reconsideration process guard against arbitrary decisions.