Ohio's top prison official is stepping out of the agency hot seat and into the governor's office. Annette Chambers-Smith, director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, will resign at the end of the month to become an adviser to Gov. Mike DeWine. ODRC assistant director Ed Banks is set to take over as interim director while a permanent replacement is lined up.
Transition at ODRC
In a March 16 resignation letter to staff, Chambers-Smith told employees she would miss the department and thanked workers for “living our values.” DeWine, for his part, praised her leadership and pointed to the department's increased focus on reentry and job readiness for the roughly 18,000 people who leave Ohio prisons each year, according to WSYX.
Resignation Comes Amid Lawsuit Over Guard's Death
Chambers-Smith's exit arrives as the department faces legal scrutiny over the Dec. 25, 2024 beating death of correction officer Andrew Lansing at Ross Correctional Institution, according to Corrections1. The inmate charged in the killing, Rashawn Cannon, was indicted on three counts of aggravated murder and is scheduled to go to trial in September 2026, Prison Legal News reports.
What’s Next at the Department
With Chambers-Smith leaving, Banks will step in as interim director while the agency and the governor's office search for a permanent successor. DeWine said he would share more details in the coming weeks about Chambers-Smith's new role as adviser, per WSYX. The administration did not immediately offer additional information on the timeline for naming a permanent director.
The leadership shakeup will be closely watched by lawmakers and corrections staff as ODRC continues to navigate staffing, safety and reentry priorities. We will monitor official announcements from the governor's office and ODRC as they select a permanent successor and as the scheduled September 2026 trial moves forward.
