JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov.-elect Eric Greitens has decided that Department of Corrections Director George Lombardi will not be a part of the new administration.
In a Facebook post Wednesday morning, Greitens named North Carolina Director of Community Corrections Anne Precythe as the new director of the Department of Corrections to fix a department he says is “broken.”
“Our corrections officers struggle in a culture of harassment and neglect, in a department with low morale and shockingly high turnover,” Greitens said. “These men and women do important work. They need our help.”
The DOC has drawn significant criticism in the last month as claims of sexual and racial harassment towards female and minority corrections officers has lead to millions of dollars of settlements paid by the state on top of the trauma suffered by the victims of the harassment. Lombardi’s term in office has also been marred by scandal relating to its acquisition of death penalty drugs, including the use of cash payments to possibly partake in tax evasion.
Greitens promised that Precythe would help end the corruption in the department and enrich Missouri in the process.
“Anne is tough on crime and a fierce advocate for the employees and officers who will keep our streets safe,” he said. “She delivered results in North Carolina. In her state, people released from prison are less likely to commit crimes again. The system is wasting less money. Employees feel heard and appreciated. Because of Anne’s leadership, corrections officers are supported, and families know that their state prisons are well-run and secure.”
A New York Times article from 2014 shows that under Precythe, North Carolina has lowered its incarceration rate through parole reform.
