The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board is facing a significant backlog of cases, with the possibility of having to review as many as 550 parole cases in January due to the cancellation of this month’s meeting. The cancellation occurred after the resignation of two members, further complicating the board’s workload. This delay will place even greater pressure on the part-time board, which already has limited time to review the parole cases of individuals incarcerated in state prisons.
The five-member board plays a critical role in the state’s justice system, reviewing hundreds of cases each month, including applications for pardons, parole, and commutations. Additionally, the board is responsible for hearing clemency petitions for prisoners on death row in Oklahoma. The board’s members are tasked with reviewing extensive documentation, including case histories and letters, before each meeting. This immense responsibility has become even more overwhelming due to the recent backlog, according to Sue Hinton, a retired journalism professor and advocate for incarcerated individuals. Hinton has been working on behalf of prisoners for the past five years, and she expressed concern that the overwhelming number of cases makes it difficult for the board to give each case the fair attention it deserves.
Hinton stated that, in a typical month, the board is only able to spend a few minutes on each case, given the sheer volume of content they must go through on a part-time basis. The backlog, she warned, will only worsen this issue, putting even more strain on the board members to review cases efficiently within their limited time.
Among the many individuals waiting for a parole review is Wayne Thompson, a 57-year-old man who has spent over four decades behind bars for a crime he committed at age 15. Thompson, who was convicted of first-degree murder in 1984, has been waiting for years to have a personal interview with the parole board. Due to the delay, another month will pass before he can present his case for release. Thompson’s sister, Cindy Welch, was just 12 years old when her brother was incarcerated, and now, as a grandmother, she continues to fight for his release. She remains hopeful that Thompson will successfully reintegrate into society if granted parole, though she is understandably frustrated by the additional delay.
Welch expressed her frustration at the postponement but held onto hope that if Thompson is granted freedom, the wait will be worthwhile. She said, “It’s really upsetting that we have to wait another month, but if in another month we get our freedom, then it’s alright.”
Governor Kevin Stitt is responsible for appointing two new members to the Pardon and Parole Board to fill the vacancies left by the recent resignations of Edward Konieczny and Calvin Prince. Abegail Cave, a spokesperson for Stitt’s office, assured that the appointments would be made “in a timely manner,” but did not provide any further details. To qualify for a seat on the board, appointees must hold a college degree and have experience in a related field. Additionally, at least two members are required to have five years of training or experience in areas such as mental health, substance abuse, or social work.
Tom Bates, the executive director of the Pardon and Parole Board, expressed confidence that the new members would be appointed in time for the January meeting. He assured that the remaining board members would be prepared to continue the work of reviewing cases. Bates stated, “The governor is working on these appointments. I trust that we will be able to get folks prepared for the meeting.”
However, the resignations have created uncertainty, particularly for individuals like Wayne Thompson who are waiting for parole hearings. Madison Boone, an attorney from Project Commutation, an Oklahoma-based nonprofit that provides legal representation for individuals appearing before the board, highlighted the unfortunate consequences of the delay. Boone emphasized that this additional month spent in prison is a painful experience for the incarcerated individuals, regardless of what the future may hold.
The resignations have left Thompson’s case in limbo. Both former board members, Prince and Konieczny, voted in October to advance Thompson to the next stage of the parole process, where he would have had a video conference interview with the board. With their resignations, Thompson now faces an uncertain future, as the new board members’ views on his case are unknown. He expressed his disappointment but maintained a sense of hope, saying, “At the end of the day, I’m just glad to still have the opportunity to continue the conversation.”
Thompson, like many other inmates awaiting parole, now faces further delays in what has already been a long and difficult journey. The hope for a second chance at freedom continues, though the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Pardon and Parole Board adds another layer of difficulty to an already challenging process.
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