New vice chairman of the state's pardon and parole board

(McAlester-AP) -- A psychology teacher at McAlester High School has been named the vice chairman of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board. <br><br>Members of the board named James Marion Brown as vice chair

Tuesday, February 17th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(McAlester-AP) -- A psychology teacher at McAlester High School has been named the vice chairman of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board.

Members of the board named James Marion Brown as vice chair and former Attorney General Susan B-Loving was named chairwoman.

The board decides whether inmates are released from prison and recommends pardons to the governor.

As a member of the state's pardon and parole board, Brown says he usually spends at least 25 hours a month reading letters from families of inmates and victims before making recommendations.

Parole board members typically review between 560 and 700 cases each month before their monthly meetings.

The pardon and parole board is composed of three members appointed by the governor, one member appointed by the Oklahoma Supreme Court and one member appointed by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals.