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Indiana Parole Board

The Indiana Parole Board consists of five (5) members: the Chairman, Vice Chairman and three (3) members who are appointed by the Governor to serve four (4) year terms.

The Board has jurisdiction over all offenders who committed their crimes before October 1977 (referred to as “old code” offenders), and exercises discretionary parole release authority over them. The Board also has jurisdiction over all offenders who committed their crimes after October 1977 (referred to as “new code” offenders) whose release on parole is mandatory. When parole is violated, the Board makes discretionary decisions regarding the reinstatement of parole of all “new code” offenders whose parole has been revoked.

In addition, the Indiana Parole Board acts as a Clemency Commission for all capital cases and makes recommendations to the Governor concerning clemency or commutation requests.

The Indiana Parole Board is available to assist victims who have safety concerns regarding an offender’s parole release. If you have safety concerns, you may contact the Indiana Parole Board at 317-232-5784.

Indiana Parole Board 

 

Gwendolyn M. Horth
Chair
Member Since 2015
Term Expires July 2024

 

Charles F. Miller
Vice Chair
Member Since 2013
Term Expires July 2023
 

James W. Shaffer
Member
Member Since 2017
Term Expires September 2021

 

 

Frederick A. Medley
Member
Member Since 2014
Term Expires June 2022
 

 

 

 

Thor R. Miller
Member
Member Since 1994
Term Expires September 2021

 

     PUBLIC NOTICE

 

*Notice: Due to the unforseen circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, please click on the link below to view the most up to date information regarding Parole Hearings:

Indiana Parole Board Update COVID-19 Notice

NOTICE OF PAROLE BOARD SEPTEMBER PUBLIC HEARINGS

  To ensure the health and safety of the Indiana Parole Board members and staff, the Parole Board will not hold public hearings on Tuesday, September 1st, 2020 and will no longer allow the public to attend facility hearings taking place via video conference in the Parole Board office until further notice. Letters of support and/or opposition can be submitted to our office at 402 W. Washington Street, Room W466, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 or via fax to 317-232-5738.

     *NOTICE GIVEN ON August 19th, 2020 at 12:06 P.M.

 

Parole Board Hearings

A Parole Board Hearing is a proceeding where the parole board allows the offender, victims, witnesses and other concerned parties to express their support for or opposition to the offender being paroled. There are two different parole Board Hearings involved in the parole process.

The public hearing is informal and welcomes any concerned party, including victims, witnesses and family members, to express support or opposition to the offender being paroled. You have the right to give a statement to the board, whether it is oral, written, videotaped or audio taped. You would not have to be present to enter a statement.

Anyone needing any special needs, such as an interpreter or equipment, should contact the Victim/Witness Service Programs office at (317) 232-5749 at least 1 week (5 business days) prior to the scheduled hearing or they will be expected to provide their own.  Keep in mind that you will be in a government facility and it is in your best interest to dress appropriately.  There is a security checkpoint and you will need to check in with the staff to give your name and relationship (e.g. victim, family, neighbor, etc.).  At this time you may speak to the board.

The facility hearing is the offender’s time to speak to the board and it is held at the location of the offender. The victim may attend this proceeding, but will not have the opportunity to speak about or oppose anything said in the hearing. It is a privilege for anyone to visit the facility and there will be expected guidelines. Everyone attending a Parole Board hearing must dress appropriately. Those planning to speak before the Board should dress in a manner respectful of a criminal justice tribunal. Anyone planning to attend as interested observers shall be fully dressed, and must avoid any sort of revealing clothing. Each facility will have prohibitions against indiscreet or otherwise unsafe attire. Expect to enter through a checkpoint entrance. You could be asked to leave at any time, should the authorities find a reason. With that in mind, you can call the Victim/Witness Service Program office for more details on attending this hearing.

After both hearings are held, the board will make a decision whether or not to grant parole to the offender. You are more than welcome to call.

Printable Applications and Instructions for Pardons

  • Pardon Packet (Eligibility, Instructions, and Printable Application)  

  • Indiana has adopted recent legislation regarding the expungement of criminal records.  If you qualify, this process is often quicker than the pardon process and provides many of the same benefits of a pardon.  For more information regarding expungement, please contact an Indiana criminal defense attorney or the clerk in the county where your conviction occurred.

Current Parole Board Hearings

The content of the following was prepared by the Parole Board based on information supplied by the Department of Correction and is believed to be complete and accurate at the time of preparation. The Parole Board is not responsible for any errors contained in the information supplied to the Parole Board by the Department of Correction. More information here as well as helpful abbreviations and codes here.

 

 

2007-2017 Archived Parole Board Hearings and Recent Public Notices