Secretary Erik A. Hooks of the Department of Public Safety today named Tracy Lee as the new Director of Community Corrections, effective May 1.
Lee is a 27-year Community Corrections veteran who began his career as a probation officer in Charlotte. He most recently served as assistant division administrator overseeing probation and parole operations in the Third Judicial Division, which covers 21 counties in the Piedmont-Triad, Sandhills and northern mountains. Since 1990, he has worked as intensive probation officer, chief probation officer, assistant judicial district manager and judicial district manager - all in Mecklenburg County.
“Tracy Lee is a respected manager who has led an exemplary career in our probation system much of that in a very diverse and complex metropolitan area,” said Secretary Hooks. “I’m confident the skills he obtained working with specialty courts such as drug treatment, as well as working in special operations will serve the public well and continue leading our Community Corrections staff forward in a positive direction.”
“We want to keep building on the positive changes that have come to our probation system with the implementation of evidence based practices and the Justice Reinvestment Act,” said W. David Guice, Chief Deputy Secretary for Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice. “Tracy understands that and is committed to continue leading us in that direction.”
Lee will lead a statewide probation and parole system of more than 2,600 employees who supervise nearly 98,000 individuals on probation, parole or post-release supervision. Community Corrections operates with an annual budget of approximately $200 million.
Lee holds a degree in criminal justice from UNC Pembroke and is a graduate of the NCDPS Correctional Leadership Development Program. He replaces Anne Precythe who retired from North Carolina state government in December after being selected by incoming Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens to be the director of the Missouri Department of Corrections.