Governor Taps Stratford Man for DOC Commish

This is a press release.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Tuesday morning announced that he has appointed James E. Dzurenda of Stratford to serve as Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC).

Dzurenda, who most recently served as the agency’s Deputy Commissioner of Operations, has almost three decades of experience at the DOC and has been serving in the role of Interim Commissioner since the retirement of Commissioner Leone Arnone on April 1, 2013.

“Throughout his career at the Connecticut Department of Correction, James Dzurenda has gained invaluable experience and knowledge of our correctional facilities and displayed a dedication to ensuring that they remain safe for staff, inmates and citizens alike,” Malloy said.

“His commitment to honoring the rights of crime victims, and his commitment making sure that high-risk offenders receive the proper oversight and interventions are critical to me as we continue our efforts to reduce recidivism and lower crime.”

The DOC encompasses all of the state’s long-term correctional facilities, as well as pretrial detention centers, parole supervision, and community correction systems.

(According to the Connecticut Post, the position of DOC commissioner pays $160,000 a year. "People who know me know that public safety is my number one priority," Dzurenda told the paper.)

“I am humbled by the honor that Governor Malloy has bestowed upon me,” Dzurenda said. “As Commissioner, I will continue to strive to improve public safety for the citizens of Connecticut, to ensure a safe environment for staff, and to provide offenders with opportunities to safely reintegrate into their communities as productive members of society.”

Malloy noted that the Commissioner has been asked to significantly expand upon the department’s research and analysis capability, working in conjunction with the Office of Policy and Management, the Parole Board and the Judicial Branch’s Court Support Services Division, so that efforts to reduce recidivism can be evaluated and reported on.

“How our correctional system is managed not only affects what happens inside our facilities every day, but impacts what happens on the outside when offenders re-enter the community,” Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman said.

“I have full confidence that James’ decades of experience in so many aspects of our system have given him exceptional preparation to handle this very serious responsibility.”

Dzurenda’s career at the DOC began in 1987, when he served as a Correction Officer in the Bridgeport Correctional Center.

Following several progressions in the agency, he became South District Administrator in 2009, during which time he was responsible for overseeing the administrative operations of eight correctional facilities, and then was named Deputy Commissioner of Operations in 2010, with the responsibility of overseeing the custody operations of 15 correctional facilities.

Dzurenda will continue serving as Interim Commissioner until being confirmed by the General Assembly during the 2014 legislative session.