This five-member board is appointed by the governor to 4-year terms. The governor decides the chair and vice chair for the board. State law requires at least one member be a woman and members can serve a maximum of two terms. Staff consists of an executive director, a supervising executive assistant and 22 support staff. The board works closely with the Department of Corrections and local community corrections agencies to protect the public and reduce the risk of repeat criminal behavior through incarceration and community supervision decisions based on applicable laws, victims’ interests, public safety and recognized principles of offender behavioral change.

The board imposes prison terms and makes release decisions on offenders whose criminal conduct occurred prior to November 1, 1989. It sets conditions of supervision for all offenders being released from prison, imposes sanctions for violations of supervision and determines whether discharge from parole supervision is compatible with public safety. Discharge from supervision for offenders sentenced under sentencing guidelines occurs automatically upon expiration of the statutory period of post-prison supervision. 

The board is responsible for assessing and classifying all registered sex offenders in Oregon into a notification level, based on risk to re-offend. This system improves community education and notification of high-risk registered sex offenders in Oregon (Level 3) and introduces opportunities for low-risk offenders (Levels 2 and 1) to be reclassified to a lower notification level and receive relief from registration if they meet statutory requirements.​