
Gov.-elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Arizona prison official Joe Profiri as her pick for secretary of the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
Profiri would replace Solomon Graves, who was appointed to the role by Gov. Asa Hutchinson in 2020 after previously serving in the Division of Community Correction and on the Arkansas Parole Board.
Profiri has more than 30 years of experience in criminal justice and public safety, moving up the ranks from correctional officer to interim deputy inspector general to his current position as deputy director of the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry. He has also worked as contracted analyst with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, evaluating programs at federal detention facilities to ensure compliance with standards on medical care, language access and interagency coordination.
“As our state prepares to confront rising crime head-on and devote the necessary resources to increase prison capacity to allow for the retention of violent, repeat offenders, I made it a priority to select an individual with decades of experience in correctional oversight and who shares my commitment to public safety,” Sanders said in a statement. “Joe Profiri is that person. His background and experiences, not only at the managerial level but more importantly as a correctional officer, in Arizona have uniquely prepared him to lead our Corrections Department with accountability, integrity, and professionalism. I look forward to welcoming Joe and his family to Arkansas.”
Profiri holds a bachelor’s in justice studies from Grand Canyon University. He also completed the national Certified Public Manager program through Arizona State University and attended the Executive Excellence Program through the U.S. Department of Justice-National Institute of Corrections.