Address

4545 Fisher Road, Suite D
Columbus, Ohio 43228

 

About Us

Ohio Revised Code (ORC) section 5149.10 created the Parole Board as a section within the Adult Parole Authority consisting of up to twelve (12) members, including the Chair.  The members are appointed by the Director of the DRC, and must be qualified by education or experience in correctional work, including law enforcement, prosecution of offenses, advocating for the rights of victims of crime, probation or parole, in law, in social work, or in a combination of the three categories.  Members, except the Chair and the Victim Representative, appointed after September 30, 2011, will be subject to term limits of two (2) six (6) year terms.  The Director, in consultation with the Governor, must appoint one individual to the Board who is a victim of crime, a member of a victim’s family, or who represents an organization that advocates for the rights of victims of crime.   The Parole Board currently consists of eight members whose primary statutory duties include conducting release consideration hearings on all parole eligible inmates and providing clemency recommendations to the Governor.

ORC section 5149.10 also provides for “any other personnel that are necessary for the orderly performance of the duties of the board.”   Additional Parole Board personnel include a staff of 16 Hearing Officers, including three supervisory Chief Hearing Officers.  The primary statutory duties of the Hearing Officers are to assess all inmates sentenced after July 1, 1996, and determine whether or not Post Release Control will be required after release, and to conduct field violation hearings to determine if violations of the conditions of supervision have occurred and recommend an official response to the violations.

There are also 22 Parole Officers assigned to the Parole Board.  These officers assist in preparing hearing materials, submit Transitional Control recommendations and conduct clemency investigations.  They are headquartered at various correctional institutions throughout the state, and are supervised by four Quality Assurance analysts.

Administrative staff of the Parole Board includes an Executive Assistant, three Criminal Justice Planning Specialists, and two support staff.  These staff are integral in ensuring the orderly processing and administration of the Parole Board’s duties and functions.

To submit an email concerning an Offender's Parole Board Hearing, please fill out and submit the Parole Board Email form.

Parole Board Members

Alicia Handwerk

Chair

Ms. Handwerk was appointed to the Parole Board in January 2013.  She began her employment with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction in the Interstate Compact section.  After a number of years with the Bureau of Adult Detention, she began working in the Bureau of Community Sanctions in the halfway house section.  Most recently, Ms. Handwerk was Chief of the Bureau of Community Sanctions, overseeing the administration of Community Based Correctional Facilities, Community Correction Act programs, halfway houses, Community Residential Centers, Permanent Supportive Housing, Residential Placement and the Transitional Control Program.  She has a Bachelor’s and a Juris Doctorate degree. 

Kathleen Kovach

Member

Mrs. Kovach was appointed to the Parole Board in January 2003. Mrs. Kovach comes to the Parole Board with 13 years of experience in crime victim services.  She was employed for 11 years with the Victim Assistance Program in Summit County, serving three years as Assistant Director.  In addition, Mrs. Kovach spent two years as the Director of Victim Services for the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office.    She has a Bachelors and a Masters Degree and is a Licensed Social Worker with the State of Ohio.

 

Joe Brumfield

Member

Joe Brumfield began his career at a youth residential center in 2006 and then as a youth child-care worker for a day treatment facility.  Most recently, he was promoted to become the Director of Youth Outpatient Programs for Mental Health Services of Clark and Madison Counties.  Mr. Brumfield has 9 years of experience in assessing and treating mental illnesses and substance use disorders in both youth and adults, and received his mental health counseling license in 2011.  Mr. Brumfield holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master of Science, specializing in clinical mental health and substance use disorders.

 

Lance Pressley

Member

Lance Pressley has been appointed to the Parole Board as the victim representative. Mr. Pressley comes to the Parole Board with over 15 years of experience in the field of crime victim services. He served approximately 15 years as a victim advocate with the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office.  He previously worked as a victim/witness advocate for the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office at The Center for Family Safety and Healing through Nationwide Children's Hospital.   Mr. Pressley holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in public administration.  Kathleen Kovach, currently the victim representative, will remain on the Board and transition to the position vacated by Ron Nelson.

Marc Houk 

Member

Mr. Houk was appointed to the Parole Board in July 2012.  He began employment with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction as a Correction Officer in 1987 and earned his way through the ranks holding various positions with distinction. Mr. Houk served as Warden for over 10 years at four facilities to include London Correctional Institution, Southeastern Correctional Institution, and Ohio State Penitentiary. Most recently, Mr. Houk served as Warden at Lorain Correctional Institution.  Mr. Houk has a Bachelors Degree.

Scott Widmer

Member

Mr. Widmer was appointed to the Parole Board in December 2018. Mr. Widmer began employment with the Department in 1996 as a Parole Board Parole Officer. He previously worked for the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio as a Correction Officer and as an adjunct instructor for Tiffin University. He was appointed as a Hearing Officer in January 2001. Mr. Widmer has a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice and a MBA with a concentration in Public Administration.

Glenn Holmes

Member

Mr. Holmes was appointed to the Parole Board in May 2019.  Mr. Holmes began his career as an employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  He soon followed this service with employment as a service supervisor with Dowell Oil and Gas Division and a lengthy career with First Energy as a substation inspector.  Mr. Holmes previously served as Council President and Mayor of McDonald, Ohio.  He was then elected State Representative serving Ohio’s 63^rd House District.  During his career, Mr. Holmes has chaired numerous public, civic, private boards and foundations.  Mr. Holmes holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology.

Steve Herron

Member

Mr. Herron was appointed to the Parole Board in May 2019.  Mr. Herron comes to the Board with 19 years of experience as an Assistant Ohio Public Defender, representing clients before the Parole Board at Full Board and release violation hearings.  He was previously employed with the Montgomery County Public Defender and in private practice.   Mr. Herron has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Juris Doctorate degree.  

Lisa Hoying

Member

Ms. Hoying was appointed to the Parole Board in May 2019.  Ms. Hoying comes to the Parole Board with 11 years of experience as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney with the Clark County Prosecutor’ Office.  She began in the Civil Division of the Prosecutor’s Office providing legal advice to county entities and subdivisions on numerous issues. In 2012, Ms. Hoying moved to the Appellate Division of the office and managed all criminal appeals and post-conviction relief matters.  Most recently, she was assigned to the Criminal Division where she handled numerous felony matters, including violent crimes against persons, property crimes, and narcotics crimes.  Since 2018, Ms. Hoying has been a member of the Board of Developmental Disabilities.  She has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree and a Juris Doctorate Degree. 

 

Former Parole Board Members Serving Between 1996 and 2018

Name	Start Date	End Date
Bedra, Slayman "Jim"	03/1996	09/2009
Bogan, Bobby	08/2008	06/2012
Brown, Victor	08/1998	01/2000
Capots, Ray	09/1978	12/2002
Collins-Taylor, Cathy	05/2010	06/2012
Cholar, Richard	03/2012	05/2018
Croft, Gary	10/2002	10/2005
Davis, Peter	09/2001	06/2006
Denton, Jay	06/1993	08/2001
Echols, Walter	04/1994	12/1997
Ghee, Margarette	05/1983	03/2002
Gooch, H. Richard	03/1990	03/1996
Grinner, Henry	01/1995	07/2002
Hudson, William	10/1988	12/2002
Imbrogno, Andre	07/2012	03/2018
Jackson, Michael H.	01/2013	02/2018
Jones, Gloria	03/1990	07/2002
Karl, Olivia	02/2002	06/2004
Mack, Sandra	01/1997	08/2009
Martinez, Cheryl	10/2005	12/2005
Maszczynski, Robert	10/2002	04/2011
Mathews, Larry	01/1995	12/2001
Mausser, Cynthia	12/2001	05/2015
Milligan, Patrick	06/1998	06/2002
Mitchell, Betty	03/2000	02/2007
Nelson, Ron	01/1984	12/2019
Rauschenburg, R. F.	01/2006	12/2018
Smith, Shirley A.	02/2015	12/2018
Torres, Jose	05/2010	06/2012
Upper, Constance	08/1994	11/2001
Venters, Ellen	09/2004	02/2019