Federal Position Descriptions
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Commissioner of the United States Parole Commission

Commissioner of the United States Parole Commission, Department of Justice
Responsibility
Management Scope

The USPC had a fiscal 2016 budget of $13 million and consisted of 59 employees.2

Primary Responsibilities

• Makes parole release decisions
• Authorizes methods of release and the condition under which release occurs
• Issues warrants for violation of supervision
• Determines probable cause for revocation process
• Prescribes, modifies and monitors compliance with the terms and conditions governing offenders’ behavior while on parole or mandatory or supervised release
• Revokes parole, or mandatory or supervised release of offenders
• Releases from supervision those offenders who no longer pose a risk to public safety
• Issues rules, regulations and guidelines pertaining to the national parole policy3

• Has jurisdiction over federal offenders, D.C. code offenders, uniform code of military justice offenders, state probationers and parolees in the federal Witness Protection Program, and U.S. citizens serving prison terms imposed by foreign countries, who, pursuant to treaty, have elected to be transferred to the United States to serve that sentence4

Strategic Goals and Priorities
[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration.]
Requirements
  • Experience in corrections, law enforcement or criminal justice (very helpful)
  • D.C. experience since, increasingly, focus is limited to D.C. offenders (helpful)
  • Familiarity with criminal justice system
    • Possible backgrounds include academicians studying antisocial or criminal behavior; former law enforcement; retired criminal court judges; and others
Competencies

• Collegial

Past Appointments
  • J. Patricia Wilson Smoot (2010 to present): Deputy State’s Attorney, Office of the State’s Attorney, County of Prince George’s, Maryland; Professional Development Director, District of Columbia District, Executive Office for United States Attorneys, Department of Justice; Misdemeanor Trial Division Deputy Chief, District of Columbia District, Executive Office for United States Attorneys, Department of Justice5
  • Patricia Cushwa (2004 to present): Commissioner, Parole Commission, State of Maryland; State Senator, Maryland Senate6
  • Charles Thomas Massarone (2012 to present): Member, Kentucky Parole Board; Deputy Executive Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet; President, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge of Lexington7
  • Isaac Fulwood, Jr. (2004 to 2009): Consultant, Systems Planning Corporation; Senior Marketing Representative, PepsiCo, Inc.; Executive Director of Youth Initiatives Program, Office of the Mayor, District of Columbia; Chief of Police, Metropolitan Police Department, District Of Columbia8
AGENCY

Department of Justice

Mission: To enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law, ensure public safety against foreign and domestic threats, provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime, seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior and ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans

COMPENSATION

Level V $145,700 (5 U.S.C. § 5316)1

REPORTS TO

Attorney General

SENATE COMMITTEE

Judiciary

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Footnote
  1. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.
  2. Leadership Directories
  3. OPM
  4. Leadership Directories
  5. Leadership Directories
  6. https://lo.bvdep.com/PeopleDocument.asp?PersonId=-1&LDIPeopleId=403821&Save=0
  7. https://www.justice.gov/uspc/meet-commissioners
  8. https://lo.bvdep.com/PeopleDocument.asp?PersonId=-1&LDIPeopleId=476532&Save=0
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