Act 81 of 2008 required the Commission to adopt guidelines for parole to be considered by the Pennsylvania Parole Board or any other paroling authority, and to adopt recommitment ranges following revocation of parole by the Board.

Under Title 42 § 2154.5, guidelines for parole must give primary consideration to the protection of the public and victim safety; provide for due consideration of victim input; encourage good conduct and program participation by inmates and parolees; prioritize criminal justice resources for persons posing the greatest risk to public safety; and use validated risk assessment tools to minimize threats to public safety and maximize the success of reentry.

Under Title 42 § 2154.6, recommitment ranges specify a range of time for which a parole violator may be recommitted to serve an additional part of the term which the paroled person would have been compelled to serve had the person not been paroled. Ranges shall consider the seriousness of the initial conviction offense, the seriousness of the violation, and the rehabilitative needs of the defendant.

In 2020, initial proposals for both mandates were approved by the Commission and published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin (7/11/2020). From late 2020 through early 2022, while the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections worked to develop and implement a new risk assessment instrument, work on the proposals was postponed. Revised proposals were approved by the Commission and published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin (4/23/2022). On June 2, 2022, the Commission adopted the State Parole Guidelines and submitted the guidelines to the General Assembly through publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. State parole guidelines took effect January 1, 2023.

Revised proposed recommitment ranges were approved by the Commission and published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin (1/7/2023). On March 9, 2023, the Commission adopted State Parole Recommitment Ranges and submitted the ranges to the General Assembly for review in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. State Parole Recommitment Ranges apply to all State parole violation hearings initiated on or after January 1, 2024.

For a full summary of proposals and testimony on State Parole Guidelines and State Parole Recommitment ranges, see below.