Parole Commission
Chairperson
Dean Stensberg
Phone: 608-240-7280
Fax: 608-240-7299
parolecommission@wisconsin.gov
Commissioners
- Steven Landreman
- Danielle LaCost
- William Francis
- Emily Davidson
- Doug Drankiewicz
Parole Commission Organization Chart Duties of the Parole Commission
The Wisconsin Parole Commission is the final authority for granting discretionary paroles or early release from prison for sentences handed down for crimes committed before Dec. 31, 1999.
The Commission conducts interviews with eligible inmates sentenced to the custody of the DOC. A commissioner meets with an inmate individually and makes an independent decision on the possibility of a grant.
The Parole Commission is attached to the DOC for administrative purposes but implements its statutory responsibilities independently. The Governor appoints the commission's chairperson with the advice and consent of the senate for a two-year term. Current commission members are hired in accordance with the civil service system and report to the chairperson.
Criteria for parole
Parole consideration is an entitlement, however, parole is not. Each case is measured on an individual basis and parole consideration is based on the following criteria:
- Reached the Parole Eligibility Date in his or her sentence.
- Served sufficient time for punishment of his or her crime(s).
- Shown positive changes in behavior as well as documented progress in programming, treatment and/or educational achievement.
- A viable parole plan which offers the offender realistic opportunities for a stable residence, employment, and programming, if needed.
- An acceptably reduced level of risk to the public. The criteria for determining risk include past criminal and incarceration record, probation and parole violations, security classification, and any unmet treatment or programs needs.
Also considered is information contained in the institution case file, the actual interview, and correspondence received both for and against release on discretionary parole.
Truth-In-Sentencing
Under Wisconsin's Truth-in-Sentencing laws, any person who commits a felony offense on or after Dec. 31, 1999, and is sentenced to at least one year in prison will not be eligible for parole. They are generally required to serve the entire sentence imposed by the Court, with some exceptions for early release. Offenders who violate prison rules may have additional days added to the confinement portion of their sentence.
Upon completion of the confinement portion of their sentence, an offender must serve a period of Extended Supervision in the community under the supervision of a DOC community corrections agent. At the time of sentencing, a judge determines the length of confinement and the length of Extended Supervision an offender must serve. By law, the length of Extended Supervision must be at least one-quarter of the time of confinement.
Parole consideration exists only for offenders that have committed a felony before Dec. 31, 1999, prior to the effective date of the Truth-in-Sentencing law.
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