The BBP was created by the Texas State Legislature in 1929, with three members appointed by the governor and one designated as supervisor of paroles.
The legislature in 1947 authorized the board, with approval of the governor, to release prisoners for parole or probation, with the exception of those with a death sentence.
A division of parole supervision was established in 1957 as part of the BPP, to open up district offices across the state to monitor offenders.
In 1983, the Texas Constitution was amended to expand the BPP to six members, appointed by the governor, including naming a chairman, with the advice and consent of the state senate.
The BPP was further modified as part of a 1989 reorganization that created the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to oversee probation, incarceration and parole supervision.
Changes under that legislation included, but were not limited to: The legislature made mandatory supervision discretionary in 1995 for any offender with an offense committed on or after September 1, 1996, by granting the BPP authority to block a scheduled mandatory supervision release based on an assessment of risk to the public and the actual time served not being an accurate reflection of the potential for rehabilitation.
Board members maintain offices in seven regions around the state: Amarillo, Angleton, Austin, Gatesville, Huntsville, Palestine and San Antonio.
The guidelines provide a rating score for each offender based on the seriousness of the offense and the likelihood of a favorable parole outcome.
The guidelines consist of two major components – a risk assessment and an offense severity classification – that combine to create a single ranking score.
The risk assessment uses both Static Factors – age at first admission to a correctional facility, criminal record, history of incarcerations, previous release revocations, employment history – and Dynamic Factors that may change—educational, vocational, or on-the-job training in prison, disciplinary conduct, prison custody level, age – to determine a risk level score.
The board's goal is to continuously identify any parole guideline-related issues in order to maintain current and effective guidelines.
The panel voters have a number of options, including requiring that offenders complete specific treatment and rehabilitation programs prior to release.
When an offender is released on parole or mandatory supervision they are required to abide by both general and special conditions that have been imposed.
Through the use of graduated sanctions, the BPP has reduced the number of offenders returning to prison, particularly on what are considered technical violations.
The board publishes annual data on the number of parole cases, revocation hearings, clemency applications and related activities and the percentages of approvals.