Benjamin J. Malcolm, 81, whose career in New York City, New York State and US 
correctional services spanned a half century, died May 25.  Below appears 
brief biographical information. More about Benjamin J. Malcolm's role in New 
York correction history as well as photos taken during his career can be 
accessed from the home page of the New York Correction History Society: 
http://www.correctionhistory.org
<A HREF="http://www.correctionhistory.org/">NYCHS</A> 

A native of Philadelphia, a graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, and a 
World War II veteran, he started as a New York City Parole Commission officer 
and advanced through the ranks during the ten years that followed. When the 
NYC parole panel was phased out in the mid-1960s, its officers entered state 
parole service. 

In 1970, Benjamin Malcolm received his master's degree in public 
administration from New York University. On Dec. 14 that same year, Mayor 
Lindsay appointed him Deputy Commissioner to Correction Commissioner George 
McGrath. On Jan. 24, 1972, the Mayor named Malcolm as Commissioner. He thus 
became the first African-American to head the municipal jail agency. He 
served until Nov. 19, 1977, when he stepped down to accept appointment by 
President Jimmy Carter to the US Parole Commission. 

In 1984, when Malcolm's term as a US Parole Commissioner expired, New York 
Governor Mario Cuomo offered him chairmanship of the State Parole Board but 
he declined, deciding instead to launch a private research company, Parole 
Services of America, to provide inmates seeking parole with relevant 
comparative parole data.

Commissioner Malcolm leaves his wife, two daughters and two granddaughters, 
three sisters, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.  Funeral services 
were held 7 p.m., Thursday, May 31, at the St. Albans, Presbyterian Church, 
190-04 119th Ave., Queens. Burial took place Saturday, June 2, in Rock Creek 
Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

Thomas C. McCarthy
general secretary,
New York Correction History Society
http://www.correctionhistory.org
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director of historical services
Correction Academy
New York City Department of Correction
66-26 Metropolitan Ave.,
Middle Village, NY 11379
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(718) 417-2315
(718) 4717-2326 fax