Governor McKee Appoints Dr. Jill Hume Harrison to the Rhode Island Parole Board

Published on Wednesday, April 02, 2025

PROVIDENCE, RI — Governor Dan McKee today announced his appointment of Dr. Jill Hume Harrison to serve on the Rhode Island Parole Board.

“Dr. Harrison’s extensive background in justice studies and sociology positions her to support the parole board’s mission of ensuring public safety while promoting the safe and productive re-entry of incarcerated Rhode Islanders,” said Governor Dan McKee. "I am confident that she will approach every parole decision with a thorough, fair, and impartial review of the facts."

Dr. Harrison is a sociologist currently working at Rhode Island College (RIC) as a professor of Sociology and Justice Studies. She also serves as Director of the Justice Studies undergraduate program at RIC.

“I am honored to accept the Governor's appointment to serve on the state's probation and parole board,” said Dr. Harrison. “This role presents a significant opportunity to contribute to the fair and effective administration of justice in our community. I am committed to working diligently with my fellow board members to ensure that our decisions promote public safety and foster rehabilitation of individuals under our supervision.”

Dr. Harrison previously served as a consultant and researcher with the Culture of Wellness for the Maine State Prison. Before this, she provided seven years of meditation and cognitive behavior training to the incarcerated at the RI Department of Corrections and continues to offer on-site Title VII and DEI training to cadets. She is a registered Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, an active member of Jamestown’s Juvenile Hearing Board, and chaired RIC’s Student Conduct Board from 2012 to 2023.

Dr. Harrison earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of New Hampshire and holds a B.A. from Wells College and an M.A. from George Mason University.

She was previously appointed by Governor McKee to serve on the Rhode Island Ethics Commission in August 2024 and will be replaced on the commission by retired Major General Christopher P. Callahan.