State Correction Commish heading to NYC

jamesAfter less than a year in office, James E Dzurenda of Stratford, commissioner of the state Department of Correction, is leaving for a new job as First Deputy Commissioner for New York City Department of Correction. He will be in charge of all the city jails in all five boroughs in NYC as well as Rikers Island, where investigators recently found widespread abuse of teenage inmates.

After more than 27 years of state service, Dzurenda’s last day is Friday. He will be working for New York’s Commissioner of Correction Joseph Ponte.

“Crime is at historic lows in our state, and without a doubt Jim and the other hard-working professionals in the department are playing a critical role in that effort,” said Governor Dannel P. Malloy in a statement announcing Dzurenda’s departure.  “With Jim’s help, our state has implemented smarter laws that ensure violent offenders serve more time and get the treatment they need so that they are less likely to commit additional crimes when they’re released.  I want to thank him for his service, and I wish him well in this new role.”

 

Dzurenda was appointed in November of last year and was then confirmed unanimously by the State Senate.

“I am grateful to Governor Malloy and Lieutenant Governor Wyman for giving me the opportunity to run the state’s largest agency,” Dzurenda said in a statement.  “Governor Malloy and his administration have been great supporters of the agency’s vital mission of protecting the public.”

Malloy is appointing Deputy Commissioner Scott Semple to serve as acting commissioner of the DOC.