The Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission appoints Sara Andrews as its new executive director.

The Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission appoints Sara Andrews as its new executive director.

The Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission hired a 20-year veteran of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) as its new executive director today. Sara Andrews will replace long-time director David Diroll early next year.

Andrews serves as deputy director of the Division of Parole and Community Services and chief of the Adult Parole Authority at DRC. In addition to managing more than 600 employees and overseeing a budget of more than $200 million, Andrews is responsible for the Ohio Parole Board, the Office of Victim Services, the Office of Offender Reentry, the Bureau of Research, and the inspection of Ohio’s jails. She also serves as Ohio’s commissioner for the Interstate Compact for Adult Supervision. She began working for DRC in 1991 as a parole officer.

Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, who chairs the sentencing commission, called Andrews supremely qualified to lead the organization.

“Sara not only brings a wealth of experience to the position, she also brings proven management experience of more than two decades with DRC. I look forward to working with her and the commission members to expand the scope of the commission to combat crime in an inter-related multidimensional way.”

In 1990, the General Assembly created the sentencing commission by statute. The commission conducts reviews of Ohio’s sentencing statutes and sentencing patterns and makes recommendations regarding necessary statutory changes. The commission consists of 31 members, 10 of whom are judges appointed by the Chief Justice.