Harley Lappin, the recently retired director of the U.S. Prisons, has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Corrections Officer for Corrections Corporation of America, which operates 66 facilities, including 45 company-owned units, with 90,000 beds. Lappin, 55 will be responsible for the oversight of facility operations, health services, inmate rehabilitation programs, purchasing and TransCor, a transportation subsidiary. He succeeds Richard Seiter, who resigned May 31.
Lappin, 55, was a warden at two federal prisons before rising through the ranks to be named director. He announced his departure after being arrested for drunk driving in February, although he said the retirement had nothing to do with the case. Many corrections advocates have urged Attorney General Eric Holder to consider appointing an expert outside of the prison bureau to succeed Lappin.