Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 5149.10 – Parole board

(A)
1. (1) The parole board shall consist of up to twelve members, one of whom shall be designated as chairperson by the director of the department of rehabilitation and correction and who shall continue as chairperson until a successor is designated, and any other personnel that are necessary for the orderly performance of the duties of the board. In addition to the rules authorized by section 5149.02 of the Revised Code, the chief of the adult parole authority, subject to the approval of the chief of the division of parole and community services and subject to this section, shall adopt rules governing the proceedings of the parole board. The rules shall provide for all of the following:
  1. (a) The convening of full board hearings;
  2. (b) The procedures to be followed in full board hearings;
  3. (c) General procedures to be followed in other hearings of the board and by the board's hearing officers;
  4. (d) A requirement that a majority of all the board members must agree to any recommendation of clemency transmitted to the governor;
  5. (e) For parole hearings, procedures for considering the report of the warden of the institution in which the eligible prisoner is incarcerated, submitted under section 5120.68 of the Revised Code.
2. (2) When the board members sit as a full board, the chairperson shall preside. The chairperson shall also allocate the work of the parole board among the board members. The full board shall meet at least once each month. In the case of a tie vote on the full board, the chief of the adult parole authority shall cast the deciding vote. The chairperson may designate a person to serve in the chairperson's place.
3. (3) Except for the chairperson and the member appointed under division (B) of this section, a member appointed to the parole board on or after September 30, 2011, shall be appointed to a six-year term. A member appointed as described in this division shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. A member appointed as described in this division is eligible for reappointment for another six-year term that may or may not be consecutive to the first six-year term. A member appointed as described in this division is not eligible for reappointment after serving two six-year terms whether or not served consecutively. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner provided for original appointments. Any member appointed as described in this division to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration date of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall begin that member's first six-year term upon appointment, regardless of the time remaining in the term of the member's predecessor. A member appointed as described in this division shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.
4. (4) Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section, no person shall be appointed a member of the board who is not qualified by education or experience in correctional work, including law enforcement, prosecution of offenses, advocating for the rights of victims of crime, probation, or parole, in law, in social work, or in a combination of the three categories.
(B) The director of rehabilitation and correction, in consultation with the governor, shall appoint one member of the board, who shall be a person who has been a victim of crime or who is a member of a victim's family or who represents an organization that advocates for the rights of victims of crime. After appointment, this member shall be an unclassified employee of the department of rehabilitation and correction. The initial appointment shall be for a term ending four years after July 1, 1996. Thereafter, the term of office of the member appointed under this division shall be for four years, with each term ending on the same day of the same month as did the term that it succeeds. The member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed and may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. Any member appointed under this division to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration date of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office as a member for the remainder of that term. The member appointed under this division shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. The member appointed under this division shall be compensated in the same manner as other board members and shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the member's duties. The member may vote on all cases heard by the full board under section 5149.101 of the Revised Code, has such duties as are assigned by the chairperson of the board, and shall coordinate the member's activities with the office of victims' services created under section 5120.60 of the Revised Code. As used in this division, "crime," "member of the victim's family," and "victim" have the meanings given in section 2930.01 of the Revised Code.
(C) The chairperson shall submit all recommendations for or against clemency directly to the governor.
(D) The chairperson shall transmit to the chief of the adult parole authority all determinations for or against parole made by the board. Parole determinations are final and are not subject to review or change by the chief.
(E) In addition to its duties pertaining to parole and clemency, if an offender is sentenced to a prison term pursuant to division (A)(3), (B)(1)(a), (b), or (c), (B)(2)(a), (b), or (c), or (B)(3)(a), (b), (c), or (d) of section 2971.03 of the Revised Code, the parole board shall have control over the offender's service of the prison term during the entire term unless the board terminates its control in accordance with section 2971.04 of the Revised Code. The parole board may terminate its control over the offender's service of the prison term only in accordance with section 2971.04 of the Revised Code.