ELMA, N.Y. — A recent report prepared by two parolee advocates suggests the state parole board, as currently comprised, is not doing its job well.

The report, in part, to lack of staffing. There are currently 12 sitting board members while state law allows up to 19.

"Certainly there's an optimum number and once they dip down below that number it cause decreases in efficiencies, probably backlogs and they're probably not able to meet all of their obligations, but I don't know exactly what that number would be," said state Senator Pat Gallivan, R-Elma.

The report also claims the board's punitive policies and practices and susceptibility to political influence have led to a large majority of parolees being denied release. It specifically called for the dismissal of two commissioners, William Smith and Marc Coppola, who the advocates say frequently engage in "racist, unlawful and repugnant behavior."

"I worked with both of them years ago when I was on the parole board and I know that they endeavor to follow the standards that are laid out in the executive law when it comes to the release," Gallivan said. "I've never detected any racism or anything less than professionalism in them."

The chairman of the state Senate Crime, Crime Victims and Corrections Committee defended Smith and Coppola but the report suggested there are reasons for that allegiance.

It said he and Coppola, who is a former state senator from WNY himself, have close personal and professional ties.

As for Smith, it pointed out he's donated roughly $17,000 to the state senator's campaign since 2010. Gallivan argued that while he has voted in favor of their reappointments, so have a majority of his colleagues after extensive hearings.

"Any allegations to the contrary are nonsensical," he said.

Coppola meanwhile, referred questions to the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, which in a statement said the Parole Board  "wholeheartedly disagrees with many of the false accusations in the report."