McALESTER, Okla. (AP) — The Oklahoma Board of Corrections is meeting in McAlester to appoint an interim director to oversee the state's prison operations.
The seven-member board, which currently has one vacancy, will meet Thursday afternoon at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.
The panel is looking for a temporary replacement for former director Robert Patton, who announced his resignation last month amid a grand jury investigation into problems with Oklahoma's last two scheduled executions. Patton said he wanted to be closer to his family in Arizona and went to work for a private prison there.
The Department of Corrections' general counsel, David Cincotta, has been acting director since Patton's last day on December 24th.
The board is expected to name and approve a salary for an interim director.