On Tuesday, Governor-elect Snyder announced that Richard McKeon will serve as acting director of the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) while a national search is conducted for a permanent director.

McKeon currently serves on the board of directors of SIREN, the Eaton County Domestic Violence Shelter, and previously served as chief of staff at the MDOC. McKeon worked at the MDOC from 1981 to 2003 and then served as a transition advisor to outgoing Director Patricia Caruso. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Michigan University and a Master of Social Work from Wayne State University.

Containing prison costs will be a major issue for new lawmakers as they address the state's structural budget deficit. The MDOC budget accounts for approximately a quarter of the state's general fund budget and operates 34 prison facilities with a population of more than 44,000 inmates.