Department of Correction Commissioner Leo Arnone is retiring.  Governor Dannel Malloy’s office announced it had received word from  Arnone of his intention to retire from his position effective April 1.

Arnone,  who was appointed by Governor Jodi Rell in 2010  and reappointed by Governor Malloy began his career at the Department of Correction as a Correction Officer in 1974.  He also worked in the Judicial Branch, as Superintendent of the Hartford Juvenile Detention Center,  and as Deputy Director of Operations for Juvenile Detention Services.

Malloy says Arnone is respected and admired for turning Connecticut’s prisons into models for the country,  and says he will miss Arnone’s dedication to state service.  He named Under Secretary for Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Mike Lawelor to lead a nationwide search for Arnone’s successor.