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Rauner appoints “squeaky clean” prison director

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Illinois

* From a press release…

Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has selected Donald Stolworthy, 54, of Arlington, Va. to lead the Illinois Department of Corrections as its next Director. Stolworthy brings 15 years of corrections experience to the position and is a recognized expert in corrections reform.

Currently, Stolworthy works at the U.S. State Department in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) as a Corrections Team Leader. He conducts assessments of foreign prison systems to see how the United States can help transform those systems and further U.S. strategic interests. Stolworthy is also the senior corrections subject matter official at the INL and routinely provides policy guidance to senior State Department officials and Assistant Secretaries of State.

Stolworthy also managed the construction of all five prisons in Iraq as the Deputy Director of Operations and Warden Adviser while working for the State Department and U.S. Justice Department. The construction of those prisons was completed on time and under budget by $8 million. In this position, Stolworthy also advised and mentored the Iraqi warden and deputy warden on the best correctional practices.

Stolworthy’s career in corrections began in 1999 as a Probation and Parole Officer with the Alaska Department of Corrections. He was promoted three years later to Deputy Commissioner of Operations where he oversaw a number of reforms to make the department more efficient. For example, he created the position of Chief Time Accounting Officer, revised sentence computation policy to reflect statutory changes, improved accuracy of sentence computations and reduced the department’s liability.

In addition to his corrections experience, Stolworthy worked as the Special Assistant to the Governor of Alaska, as a legislative aide to a member of the Alaska House of Representatives and as the Division Director of the Alaska Charitable Gaming Division.

Stolworthy graduated from the University of Wyoming with a bachelor’s degree in history. He also went through Probation and Parole Officer Basic Academy in Alaska.

He seems pretty darned qualified.

* And the feds believed he was so honest that they recruited him for a sting operation. From a 2007 AP story…

A former deputy commissioner of the Department of Corrections was revealed as a government informant during the corruption trial of former state Rep. Tom Anderson. […]

Frank Prewitt, a former Corrections commissioner and later a consultant for Cornell Industries, Inc., a firm that develops and operates private prisons, testified that he worked with Stolworthy in 2004 to develop a compromise on competing legislative bills to build a new prison.

One measure could have led to a Cornell prison in Whittier. The other, supported by the administration of then-Gov. Frank Murkowski, pushed a state-run prison in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

Prewitt testified that Stolworthy told him he was worried about losing his job because of union opposition to a private prison.

Prewitt said he assured Stolworthy that “people would be there for him” if that happened. Prewitt told jurors that Stolworthy eventually sought money as a sort of insurance policy if he lost his job.

Stolworthy did so because the FBI asked him to, FBI spokesman Eric Gonzalez said Saturday. Stolworthy was working for the FBI as a “cooperating witness,” he said.

“We approached him out of the blue,” Gonzalez said. “We asked for his help and he said he’d be glad to help us.”

Stolworthy “was squeaky clean,” Gonzalez said.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 9, 15 @ 8:04 am

Comments

“Stolworthy also advised and mentored the Iraqi warden and deputy warden on the best correctional practices.”

That’s a line I’d drop from the ol’ resume…

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Monday, Mar 9, 15 @ 8:24 am
If he’s squeaky clean, he probably will end up at odds with Rauner, given the Governor’s sordid business past.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 9, 15 @ 8:46 am
Not sure participating in Fed sting says anything about being “squeaky clean.”

Rauner sure has gone far and wide in getting senior staff. That’s to his credit.

Comment by walker Monday, Mar 9, 15 @ 8:56 am
Prewitt testified that Stolworthy told him he was worried about losing his job because of union opposition to a private prison.

“Peewit said he assured Stolworthy that “people would be there for him” if that happened. Prewitt told jurors that Stolworthy eventually sought money as a sort of insurance policy if he lost his job.”

This is the kind of informant that does not impress me. The kind that inserts themselves into situations to invite a crime.

Comment by state worker Monday, Mar 9, 15 @ 8:59 am
http://www.adn.com/print/article/20100323/fbi-said-have-paid-witness-200000-during-corruption-probe

“Frank Prewitt, Alaska’s former corrections commissioner and a key undercover source for the federal government as it investigated political corruption in Alaska, was paid $200,000 by the FBI for his assistance, a new court filing asserts.

Prewitt, who become a private prison consultant after his stint as commissioner in the Hickel administration ended in 1994, began working undercover for the FBI in 2004 and testified in federal trials of two Alaska lawmakers in 2007.”

So there were two FBI informants talking to each other. Ha! This whole thing is sketchy.

Comment by Sheriff Bart Monday, Mar 9, 15 @ 9:09 am
I wonder if Rauner wants to privatize the prisons. Investors could make lots of fast money on the deal.

Comment by DuPage Monday, Mar 9, 15 @ 9:41 am
This appears like a good move.

Comment by A guy Monday, Mar 9, 15 @ 9:42 am
He even has a letter of recommendation from Whitey Bulger…

Comment by Beans and Franks Monday, Mar 9, 15 @ 10:16 am
By the numbers:

2 years spent as operations director in an American prison system inclusive of 1 very interesting turn as a union-bashing stoolie,

0 years spent working inside an American prison

RAUNER AGAIN RECRUITING TIP TOP TALENT

Wonder how all those who thought Rauner “promised” to hire a director from within IDOC are feeling about this?

Not necessarily Rauner’s fault that he couldn’t, though. He probably had to search waaaaay outside the state to find someone willing to take this job, considering what he has planned for it.

Having focused on prisons in Iraq or Honduras or whatever is probably the only thing that would make this job look good.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Monday, Mar 9, 15 @ 11:00 am
I always wondered what the going rate for that was.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Mar 9, 15 @ 12:04 pm
There are plenty of things to criticize the Governor for, but this isn’t one of them.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Mar 9, 15 @ 12:14 pm
Wish he would have picked someone who actually worked in an Illinois prison, or at the least was an Illinois Citizen!

Comment by Mitch59 Monday, Mar 9, 15 @ 1:02 pm
15 years correctional experience, although none as a correctional officer! Not a prerequisite, but not surprising! Alaska? The combined population of Menard and Stateville is larger than the whole prison pop in AK! I don’t care how “squeaky clean” his reputation is, welcome to the “big show!” How will he deal with the massive overcrowding and overtime amounts? Can’t afford to ship inmates to Arizona or Colorado! Oh this will get good!! Gonna sit back an enjoy this ride!!

Comment by gallerywalker Monday, Mar 9, 15 @ 1:09 pm
Reads like a good pick. Would not hire him as a Warden, but he should be able to manage wardens.
Working with Iraqi officials will have stretched his mind.
Like the idea of the head of DOC with his own back door connection to the Feds.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Mar 9, 15 @ 1:23 pm
DuPage @ 9:41 am: ==I wonder if Rauner wants to privatize the prisons. Investors could make lots of fast money on the deal.==

This prison director sounds like someone a venture capitalist would appoint.

Comment by Enviro Monday, Mar 9, 15 @ 2:40 pm
The guy never walked the wing. Bad choice.

Comment by Indeterminate Sentence Monday, Mar 9, 15 @ 4:46 pm
Hey Rich, you may want to dig a little deeper on this one. The FBI described Stolworthy as as “confidential witness”. According to the Feds, “A confidential informant differs from two other categories of sources. “Cooperating witnesses,” or “CWs,” differ from CIs in that CWs agree to testify in legal proceedings and typically have written agreements with the Department of Justice (DOJ) (usually with an Assistant U.S. Attorney) that spell out their obligations and their expectations of future judicial or prosecutive consideration. The FBI must obtain the concurrence of the U.S. Attorney’s Office with regard to all material aspects of their use by the JLEA.” The FBI doesn’t just walk up to someone and hire them as witnesses. They get the little fish to turn on the big fish, and then work up the food chain. Sounds like he got doing something, then turned on Prewit, who then turned on others. Right after he approached Prewit, he quit Alaska and left his political connections behind to work in Iraq of all places. That’s about as far away from Alaska and whatever happen as you can get.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 9, 15 @ 5:21 pm
A Confidential Informant aka CI translates into someone who was caught by the FBI criminally then flipped to inform on other criminals. Inorder for their criminal charges to be reduced. Great one Gov Rauner, you recommend a criminal for the Director of IDOC. You are so green at this job the public should refer to you as Governor Grinch.

Comment by Wait A Illinios Minute Monday, Mar 9, 15 @ 7:47 pm
Qualified? Bachelors in history. Hired in off the street as a Parole Agent, then promoted to politically connected position off Deputy Commissioner in only 3 years? Note to file: This mutt has NEVER worked in a prison. From whence does anyone deem him even remotely qualified??? Shoulda been Andy Walter or Larry Mizell, bot talented IL Republicans.

Comment by Johnny Cash Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 9:37 pm