History of the Board
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HISTORY OF THE UTAH BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLE
The Utah Board of Pardons is one of the State’s original executive branch agencies and was created in 1896 by Utah's original constitution. Originally the Board was comprised of the Governor, the Justices of the Utah Supreme Court, and the State Attorney General. Within a few years of statehood, the Board was changed to an independent agency and Board membership was changed to members who are appointed by the “Board of Corrections”.
The following major changes to the Board have occurred since 1953:
1953 Board consisted of three part-time members.
1977 Board consisted of three part-time members and three pro tempore members.
1983 Board consisted of three full-time members and three pro tempore members.
1985 The Governor and not the Board of Corrections appoints the Board.
1986 Jurisdiction expanded from felony cases to restitution and class A misdemeanors.
1988 Board required to notify victims of an offender's parole hearing.
1990 Board consists of five full-time members and three pro tempore members with staggered
five year terms. Chairperson appointed by Governor for indefinite term.
1992 Commutation power of the Board of Pardons restricted. Death sentence may only be
commuted to "life witout parole".
1993 The Utah constitutional provision relating to the Board of Pardons was rewritten to include
changing the name to the Board of Pardons and Parole.
2015 The Justice Reinvestment Initiative established an Earned Time Program, Earned
Compliance Program, and made changes to parole revocation.