PA Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel attends the formal dedication of the State Correctional Institution at Phoenix Friday June 1, 2018 in Collegeville, Pa.
Jacqueline Larma / AP Photo
Wetzel leaving as prisons chief, Wolf names acting successor
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The Associated Press
Jacqueline Larma / AP Photo
PA Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel attends the formal dedication of the State Correctional Institution at Phoenix Friday June 1, 2018 in Collegeville, Pa.
(Harrisburg) — Pennsylvania Corrections Secretary John Wetzel will soon leave the job he’s held for more than a decade and be replaced by a top administrator at the agency, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf announced Monday.
Wolf plans to name as acting secretary George Little, who has overseen community corrections, parole and probation field supervision services, and parole re-entry operations.
Wetzel was first named to the job in 2011 by then-Gov. Tom Corbett, a Republican. Wetzel was warden of the Franklin County Jail before leading the state Corrections Department. His last day is Oct. 1 and he plans to work in the private sector.
Little is a Pennsylvania native who joined Corrections as director of community corrections in 2016 before becoming executive deputy secretary. He also spent many years in government in Tennessee, including as a warden and a Memphis city government administrator.
Little has a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College and completed graduate work at the University of Texas.
Wetzel’s tenure included the first drop in state prison inmate numbers in four decades, a population reduction of some 4,200.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
