Probation head is out

Robert Guy, the head of the state's probation system, will not be returning to his job once Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue takes office.

Perdue will accept a resignation from Guy, who has lead the system responsible for monitoring 114,000 probationers since 1997, said David Kochman, a spokesman for Perdue, Sarah Ovaska reports.

Kochman made the comments after Perdue announced in an afternoon press conference today that Alvin Keller Jr., a retired Marine colonel and outsider to the state corrections department, will take over as Correction Secretary. His predecessor Theodis Beck announced in November he wouldn't be staying on under Perdue.

During the press conference, Perdue would not say whether Guy would have a job under her administration. She also announced that Jennie Lou Lancaster, former warden for one of the state's female prisons, will be taking over as the chief operating officer for the correction department.

Guy's leadership has been under fire after festering problems with the state probation system, which were revealed in a three-part News & Observer series, "Losing Track," that ran in early December.

It focused primarily on the past eight years — the years Easley has been governor and when Beck and Guy, the Division of Community Corrections director, have overseen the statewide probation system.

The N&O stories found that 580 probationers had killed since the start of 2000, and the probation system had lost track of nearly 14,000 convicted criminals. The series also found that Guy and other leaders missed several chances to help officers keep up with their charges.

Several people later convicted of murder or manslaughter had multiple arrests while on probation and had gone months or even up to a year without being contacted by a probation officer.

Guy did not immediately respond to a phone call seeking comment Friday.