Bill Would Significantly Increase Pay for Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board Members

Proposed pay raise aims to attract and retain board members amid high turnover.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Oklahoma Senate has passed a bill that would nearly double the pay of the five-member Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board. The bill, introduced by Sen. Darcy Jech, would increase the board chairman's pay from $24,800 to $46,000 and raise the pay for the other four members from $22,800 to $42,000. The proposed increase is intended to more accurately reflect the workload and time commitment required of board members, who spend 20-30 hours preparing for each monthly meeting and deal with the emotional weight of their responsibilities.

Why it matters

The Pardon and Parole Board plays a crucial role in considering clemency, sentence commutations, pardons, and early release for inmates in Oklahoma. Increasing the pay for board members is aimed at helping the state attract and retain qualified individuals to serve on the board, which has seen significant turnover in recent years.

The details

Senate Bill 1330, introduced by Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, would raise the pay for the five-member Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board. The board chairman's salary would increase from $24,800 to $46,000, while the other four members would see their pay rise from $22,800 to $42,000. Jech said the proposed increase more accurately reflects the workload and time commitment required of board members, who spend 20-30 hours preparing for each monthly meeting by reading investigative reports and correspondence. The board also meets for 2-2.5 days each month, taking up an additional 15-20 hours. The pay adjustment is expected to cost the state $98,000 annually.

  • The Senate Appropriations Committee passed the measure by a vote of 22-0 on February 18, 2026.

The players

Sen. Darcy Jech

The Republican state senator from Kingfisher, Oklahoma who introduced Senate Bill 1330 to increase pay for the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board.

Kyle Counts

The executive director of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board, who stated that the board has seen quite a bit of turnover in recent years and that the proposed pay increase would help attract and retain qualified members.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I have attended numerous Pardon and Parole Board meetings. It is obvious to me to watch those meetings how much input and preparation goes into that.”

— Sen. Darcy Jech, State Senator (Oklahoma Voice)

“The board members are public servants but there is a time factor involved and the emotional weight of the responsibility. They are committed to balancing the interest of the early release when the offender went through rehabilitation with protecting the community and respecting the victims and their pain.”

— Kyle Counts, Executive Director, Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board (Oklahoma Voice)

The takeaway

The proposed pay increase for the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board members recognizes the significant time commitment and emotional weight of their responsibilities in considering clemency, commutations, pardons, and early release for inmates. The raise aims to help the state attract and retain qualified individuals to serve on this important board.