Missouri Laws 217.655 – Parole board, general duties — division duties
1. The parole board shall be responsible for determining whether a person confined in the department shall be paroled or released conditionally as provided by section 558.011. The parole board shall receive administrative support from the division of probation and parole. The division of probation and parole shall provide supervision to all persons referred by the circuit courts of the state as provided by sections 217.750 and 217.760. The parole board shall exercise independence in making decisions about individual cases, but operate cooperatively within the department and with other agencies, officials, courts, and stakeholders to achieve systemic improvement including the requirements of this section.
2. The parole board shall adopt parole guidelines to:
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 217.655
- Board: the parole board. See Missouri Laws 217.010
- Department: the department of corrections of the state of Missouri. See Missouri Laws 217.010
- Division: a statutorily created agency within the department or an agency created by the departmental organizational plan. See Missouri Laws 217.010
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- Probation: a procedure under which a defendant found guilty of a crime upon verdict or plea is released by the court without imprisonment, subject to conditions imposed by the court and subject to the supervision of the division of probation and parole. See Missouri Laws 217.010
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
- State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
(1) Preserve finite prison capacity for the most serious and violent offenders;
(2) Release supervision-manageable cases consistent with section 217.690;
(3) Use finite resources guided by validated risk and needs assessments;
(4) Support a seamless reentry process;
(5) Set appropriate conditions of supervision; and
(6) Develop effective strategies for responding to violation behaviors.
3. The parole board shall collect, analyze, and apply data in carrying out its responsibilities to achieve its mission and end goals. The parole board shall establish agency performance and outcome measures that are directly responsive to statutory responsibilities and consistent with agency goals for release decisions, supervision, revocation, recidivism, and caseloads.
4. The parole board shall publish parole data, including grant rates, revocation and recidivism rates, length of time served, and successful supervision completions, and other performance metrics.
5. The chairperson of the parole board shall employ such employees as necessary to carry out its responsibilities, serve as the appointing authority over such employees, and provide for appropriate training to members and staff, including communication skills.
6. The division of probation and parole shall provide such programs as necessary to carry out its responsibilities consistent with its goals and statutory obligations.