Senate confirms new Corrections chief

The Utah Senate confirmed Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s choice for a new executive director of the state Department of Corrections on Tuesday despite concerns about his lack of experience.

Tom Patterson, who had been serving as the head of the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, will take over a troubled prison system described in a recent legislative audit as being a "good ol' boys club."

Patterson told the Senate after a 28-0-1 vote confirming his appointment that in his new role, "the focus needs to be on moving forward and making positive changes. So you have my commitment to that."

Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, said he was initially surprised the governor picked someone for the post without a background in prison management after such a critical audit.

"I thought the governor would instantly institute a national search for somebody to heard corrections who has a track record, a proven history of dealing with a corrections system in another state," Stephenson said.

But after an hour-long discussion with Patterson, the senator said he believed Huntsman's nominee "has the courage to do it. He has the will to do it. I think he will carry out the cleaning up of this agency."

The Senate vote also included the confirmation of Patterson's replacement as executive director of CCJJ, Robert S. Yeates. The former head of corrections, Scott Carver, has been moved to the Utah Sentencing Commission.