Commissioner W. David Guice today named William Lassiter as deputy commissioner of Juvenile Justice in the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice effective May 1.
Lassiter has worked within North Carolina's state juvenile justice system since 1998, and served as director of Juvenile Community Programs in the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice since 2013.
The Department of Public Safety integrated the former divisions of Juvenile Justice and Adult Correction into the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice in September 2013 to increase efficiencies and enhance its field operations. Guice says that he and his executive team have been immersed in learning more about the past, present and future of North Carolina's juvenile justice system. The department is keenly aware of the importance of direct attention and oversight to the unique needs of youth in the juvenile justice system.
"Since the integration of the two agencies into one, my team and I have spent many hours learning from our juvenile justice leaders how the system works, including what we're doing right here in North Carolina," Guice said. "I am confident that William Lassiter - with his comprehensive knowledge of the prevention, intervention and treatment of juvenile delinquency - is the right person to lead us into this new period."
In his new role, Lassiter will plan and direct the operations of the Juvenile Justice Section, serving as a member of the division's executive team and the department's senior leadership team in regard to juvenile justice operations. As deputy commissioner of Juvenile Justice, he will oversee Juvenile Facility Operations, Juvenile Court Services, and Juvenile Community Programs.
Lassiter began his career in juvenile justice in 1998 as a researcher for the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in the Center for Prevention of School Violence. By 2001, he was promoted to become the Center's school safety specialist, and was called upon to lead the Center in 2005. Lassiter became the State Contracts Administrator for Juvenile Community Programs in 2010. In addition, he is co-author of "Preventing Violence and Crime in America's Schools: From Put-Downs to Lock-Downs," which takes an in-depth look at the causes and solutions of youth violence.
A Raleigh native, Lassiter received his master’s degree in public administration from N.C. State University.
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Contact: Diana Kees
Phone: (919) 733-5027