Director of Prisons Kenneth Lassiter announced today he is retiring at the end of September after 30 years of service.
“Kenneth has given dedicated and loyal service to North Carolinians and to the men and women whom he has served with, or led, for the past three decades,’’ said Commissioner of Prisons Todd Ishee. “This is his decision, and it is bittersweet as we will miss his energy, enthusiasm and expertise, but we celebrate his career of public service.”
Ishee said Lassiter has been a leader, a teacher and a steady hand in a crisis since starting his career in 1989 as a correctional officer at Odom Correctional Institution.
Lassiter rose through the custody ranks and into prison leadership, where he served as an assistant superintendent, superintendent, regional director, Central Prison warden, and as deputy director for operations. He was appointed Director of Prisons in 2017.
Lassiter, 51, of Wake County, said he has contemplated retiring for the past two months and felt now was time to do it. He achieved his 30 years of state service in mid-August.