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The state’s prison system has a new man at the top. Walt McNeil takes over as corrections secretary. For the past year, McNeil has run the Florida’s juvenile justice system. The former Tallahassee police chief replaces Jim McDonough, who retired after nearly two years on the job. McDonough came to the rescue after a corruption scandal led to the ouster of his predecessor. McNeil says he’s up to the challenge.

“I accept the challenge and the call to serve the citizens of our state in this capacity, bringing with this, all of the skills and resources that I’ve garnered over the years as police chief, most recently as secretary of juvenile justice, he said. “We are going to move forward with the governor’s mission to make sure that the citizens of Florida are safe and protected.”

Florida’s prison system is the nation’s third largest with an annual budget of more than $2 billion.