Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Idaho prisons director resigns to lead national organization

Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho Department of Correction Director Kevin Kempf is resigning to take a job as the executive director of the Association of State Correctional Administrators. Kempf gave the state Board of Correction his resignation on Monday, he said in an email, calling the decision "bittersweet." In the email, he said the state is headed in a good direction, crediting lawmakers, the governor's office, members of the state judiciary and other criminal justice officials for working together. He said that his new role leading the national association will allow him to lobby for correctional professionals on a national level. The state's correctional system has undergone major changes since Kempf became the prison director in 2014, including phasing out the use of solitary confinement. 

Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter said he was proud that Kempf would be bringing his experience and skills he gained in Idaho on a national level. "Kevin proved himself to be a great director over the past two years, during which the Idaho Department of Correction made dramatic improvements in its operations," Otter said in a prepared statement. "He also was instrumental in implementing sweeping reforms to our entire criminal justice system. His leadership will be sorely missed."

The Board of Correction is expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss potential replacements for Kempf and make related decisions. Kempf's resignation is effective Dec. 16.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

Follow Betsy online: