Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel Appointed to National Criminal Justice Board

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Council of State Governments Justice Center.

The chairperson of the Council of State Governments (CSG), Alaska State Sen. Gary Stevens, announced Wetzel's appointment today.

Wetzel joins a small, bipartisan group of key legislators, leading court and law enforcement officials and members of several governors' cabinets from corrections and health and human services agencies to serve on the board.

Together, they will guide various projects that the Justice Center administers, including the Criminal Justice / Mental Health Consensus Project, the National Reentry Resource Center, its Justice Reinvestment Initiative and its School Discipline Consensus project.

"I am honored to be named to this board and to be able to share and use our experiences in Pennsylvania, which were fully supported and led by Gov. Tom Corbett, to inform the board's efforts,'' Wetzel said.

"I am confident that working with such a diverse group of national experts will benefit my state and others by advancing the best thinking on complex criminal justice issues," Wetzel said.

State officials across the country have used the findings and technical assistance provided through CSG Justice Center projects to develop legislative initiatives. Congress has also worked closely with leaders of the board, drawing on recommendations provided by the Justice Center to shape national policy.

The new chairman of the Justice Center Board, Tom Stickrath, superintendent of Ohio's Bureau of Criminal Investigation, said, "We are delighted that Secretary Wetzel has been appointed to our board. As a key voice on criminal justice policy in his state, Secretary Wetzel will make a great contribution to our work."

Wetzel was selected to serve on the 15-person board for a period of two years.

The Council of State Governments Justice Center is a national nonprofit organization that serves policymakers at the local, state and federal levels from all branches of government. The Justice Center provides practical, nonpartisan advice and consensus-driven strategies, informed by available evidence, to increase public safety and strengthen communities. For more information, please visit csgjusticecenter.org.

Media contact: Susan McNaughton, 717-728-4025

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

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