Longest-serving parole board chairman to step down

Sibbett is a well-respected leader among paroling authorities nationally and internationally, according to a news release from Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s office. He served as president of the Association of Paroling Authorities International from 1999 to 2001. He was presented one of the highest honors in the international field of parole with the "Ben Baer Award" in 2003.

Shurtleff praised Sibbett's efforts to get a hate crimes bill passed in Utah's Legislature, an effort that has yet to succeed. Sibbett said he's proud of his work to get the method of terminating prisoners under the death penalty changed from the firing squad to lethal injection.

The attention deaths by firing squad generated took away from the offender's victims, Sibbett said.

Applications are being accepted to fill Sibbett's vacancy. The job will be posted at www.statejobs.utah.gov. Board members serve a 5-year term and are appointed by the governor. Last time there was an opening, the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice had to review 160 resumes, said Michele Christiansen, the commission's director.

The search is open until May 13, and after candidates are narrowed down to five, Huntsman will select the new board member.

Once a full board is in place, Huntsman will select one of the members as chairman. That should happen sometime in June, Christiansen said.

Perhaps the following — a constant prayer Sibbett said he has — is something he would pass on to whoever takes his place: "I would ask forgiveness of those we judged too harshly so we didn't have to ask forgiveness from society for those we released too early."

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