Initially known as the
United States Board of Parole, the board had three members and was established by legislation on May 13, 1930 as an independent board. The first chairperson was
Arthur DeLacy Wood. As a result of an order of the Attorney General, the Board began reporting directly to him in August 1945. Further legislation was passed on September 30, 1950 which placed the Board under the
Department of Justice. Congress passed the Parole Commission and Reorganization Act which took effect in May 1976. The Board was re-titled the United States Parole Commission. The Act also incorporated the regions that had been established by a prior pilot project, required explicit guidelines for decision making, required written rejections, and established an appeal process. The Comprenhensive Crime Control Act of 1984 brought major changes to the Commission. While preserving the Commission's jurisdiction over persons who committed offenses prior to November 1, 1987, it established
determinate sentences for
federal crimes; thus federal prisoners after that date are not eligible for parole consideration. The
United States Parole Commission Extension Act of 2013, Pub. L. No. 113-47, 127 Stat. 572, extended the life of the USPC until November 2018. The "United States Parole Commission Extension Act of 2018", Pub. L. No. 115-274, 132 Stat. 4163, extended the life of the USPC until November 2020. The "United States Parole Commission Extension Act of 2020", Sec. 4201-4203 of the "Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act", Pub. L. No. 116-159, 134 Stat. 709, extended the life of the USPC until November 2022. ==Commissioners==