Gov.-elect Ferguson names Tim Lang new secretary of the WA Department of Corrections
Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson on Dec. 3 revealed who will helm the state’s corrections department under his administration.
Tim Lang, who now heads the corrections division of the Attorney General’s Office, has been appointed to serve as secretary of the Washington state Department of Corrections, according to a Dec. 3 news release.
Lang will bring a “wealth of experience and a deep commitment to justice and safety” to the position, the release says. He has worked as chief legal counsel to the Corrections Department, helping to apply rehabilitation-centric reforms that decrease recidivism.
He’s worked for 16 years with the AG’s Office on corrections issues.
Ferguson said Lang has shown a commitment to making the correctional system better. Throughout Ferguson’s tenure as attorney general, he’s counted Lang as a “trusted member” of his leadership team.
“His extensive background in legal matters concerning corrections, coupled with his understanding of the challenges facing our state’s facilities, makes him the ideal candidate to lead the Department of Corrections,” Ferguson said in a statement. “I am confident that under his guidance, we can enhance rehabilitation efforts and ensure the safety and well-being of both staff and incarcerated individuals.”
Nov. 27, Ferguson named current Corrections Secretary Cheryl Strange to another role: acting secretary of the state Department of Social and Health Services. The governor-elect announced on Dec. 2 that Casey Sixkiller will serve as director of the Department of Ecology.
Last month Ferguson said he’d usher in new leadership to nine Washington state agencies.
Lang said he’s honored to be appointed.
“I look forward to working closely with Governor-elect Ferguson and the dedicated staff at the Department to promote safety and create an environment that fosters rehabilitation and prepares individuals for successful reintegration into society,” he said in a statement.
Lang starts his new position Jan. 15.
This story was originally published December 4, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
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