Embattled Commissioner Helen Hanks is out at the Department of Corrections, and her second in command, Paul Raymond Jr., is on administrative leave as Republicans continue looking into questionable actions at the agency.
And, sources tell NHJournal, an investigation by the Department of Justice is underway as well.
Hanks had served as commissioner since Nov. 8, 2017. She was reconfirmed for a second term on Oct. 13, 2021.
In a note to the department Monday morning, Hanks announced she was “stepping down,” and indicated it wasn’t her idea.
“This was not an easy decision, nor one I anticipated making at this time,” she wrote.
In a sign of just how little support Hanks has inside the State House, Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s office released a statement announcing her departure that was notably devoid of the usual “thank you for your service” verbiage.
“Gov. Ayotte accepted the resignation of Department of Corrections Commissioner Helen Hanks, effective today. Under the governor’s authority, Assistant Commissioner Paul Raymond is on leave effective immediately,” said spokesman John Corbett.
“At the next Executive Council meeting, Gov. Ayotte will nominate Director of New Hampshire Police Standards and Training John Scippa as acting commissioner for up to 90 days as the search for a new commissioner takes place.”
Hanks’ performance has been under scrutiny from State House Republicans like Executive Councilor John Stephen (R-Manchester), who repeatedly questioned her and her representatives about financial decisions. One disturbing revelation was a contract for courier services awarded to a company owned by Earl Gage, a former Youth Detention Center employee who is accused of repeatedly raping a child while at YDC.
Stephen also pressed the department for information about a taser purchase the council had not approved.
Asked about Hanks’ resignation, Stephen told NHJournal that taxpayers deserve accountability.
“Every agency head in this state needs to be accountable to the taxpayers, they need to be held to the highest ethical standards,” Stephen said, “They also need to be competent and to administer efficient government. And when they do something that we feel is questionable, we’re going to ask questions, and we’re going to be tough.”
Stephen wasn’t the only Republican concerned about Hanks’ performance.
Last month, Rep. Dan McGuire (R-Epsom), vice chairman of the House Finance Committee, told colleagues his committee had “lost confidence” in Hanks. As part of the House budget, McGuire proposed a 10 percent budget cut for the Department of Corrections and 100 layoffs.
“We had to work outside the commissioner’s office, unfortunately,” McGuire said of the budget process. He pointed to the department’s fiscal disarray and Hanks’ failure to address chronic staffing shortages that fueled the deficit.
Democrats responded to McGuire’s criticism by defending Hanks’ performance.
“To correct the record: Democrats on the House Finance Committee have NOT lost confidence in the Commissioner of Corrections,” the House Democrats tweeted.
Hanks then cited Democrat support when she urged the Republican-controlled Senate to undo House budget cuts to her agency. “The Democrats tweeted immediately thereafter that they had not lost confidence in me,” she said.
One month — and multiple revelations of questionable behavior later — State House Democrats continue to stand by the commissioner.
“A big loss for New Hampshire,” said Rep. David Meuse (D-Portsmouth) in response to Hanks’ resignation.
But there’s more bad news on Hanks’ horizon. Sources tell NHJournal that state investigators are looking into the Department of Corrections over the procurement of the tasers. Asked Monday about a possible investigation, the Attorney General’s Office would neither confirm nor deny an investigation is underway.
John Scippa, director of the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council (NHPSTC), will be appointed by Ayotte to temporarily lead the Department of Corrections while her administration searches for a permanent replacement.
