|
|
|
HistoryOn February 18, 1961, Governor Buford Ellington signed into law an act passed by the Eighty-Second Session of the General Assembly, placing a part-time Board of Probation and Paroles as a division of the Department of Correction. The Commissioner of Correction served as chairman and two members were appointed by the Governor, one such member had to be a practicing attorney in this state and the other member selected from the business or educational field. In 1963, legislation was passed increasing the size of the Board to five part-time members, the Governor being empowered to appoint four of its members. In 1970 the Governor began appointing all five members, with the Commissioner of Correction no longer serving as chairman. April 4, 1972, was an important date in the historical development of the Tennessee Board of Paroles. It was on this date that Governor Winfield Dunn signed into law House Bill No. 582 passed by the Eighty-Seventh General Assembly creating a full-time board with set terms established by statute, to be known as the Tennessee Board of Pardons and Paroles. The board consisted of three members, the first full time charter Board Members were Charles Traughber, Dorothy Greer and Joseph Mitchell, each appointed by Governor Winfield Dunn. Terms of appointments were for six years, with initial appointments being for staggered terms of two, four and six years respectively. The Governor also appointed a Chairman whose term of office was two years, with a maximum of three (3) consecutive terms. Board Members were Charles Traughber, Dorothy Greer and Joseph Mitchell, each appointed by Governor Winfield Dunn. Terms of appointments were for six years, with initial appointments being for staggered terms of two, four and six years respectively. The Governor also appointed a Chairman whose term of office was two years, with a maximum of three (3) consecutive terms. Charles Traughber was
appointed Chairman in July 1972 and served until June 1976. He served as a
member of the Board from July 1976 through July 1977, when he was re-appointed
Chairman and served in that capacity through June 1979. |
|
Nineteen Seventy-Nine was a landmark year for the Tennessee Board of Paroles. The Ninety-First General Assembly presented to Governor Lamar Alexander legislation enacted as the "Pardons and Paroles Reform Act of 1979". This act was unique in that it created an autonomous full-time Board which is separate functionally and administratively from any other agency. On May 25, 1979, Governor Alexander signed the Pardons and Paroles Act of 1979
into law. With new autonomy came new and greater responsibilities. Previously
field staff had been under the supervision of the Department of Correction.
Beginning July 1, 1979, parole officers and support staff were placed directly
under the supervision of the Board, through the Executive Director and the
Director of Paroles. Historical Time-line for Probation and Parole
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
