The Delaware Department of Correction has a new commissioner.
The state Senate confirmed Claire DeMatteis as DOC Commissioner Wednesday. She has been coordinating reentry initiatives across six state agencies.
DeMatteis said her top priorities are safety and security.
“But that’s what correctional officers and probation officers are trained to do," she said. "So beyond safety and security, the next biggest challenge is recruitment, recruiting correctional officers. We’ve done a good job doing that in the past, particular year.”
DeMatteis claims more officer positions are being filled. She said there were 230 vacancies last year, compared to 164 currently.
She said a class of 57 cadets begins the academy next week.
DeMatteis previously served as a special assistant to DOC. She brought in back in June 2017 to help implement the changes recommended by an independent review of the deadly prison uprising at Vaughn Correctional Center.
Current DOC Commissioner Perry Phelps is retiring is retiring on July 15th.
