Skip to Content
Agencies | Governor
Search Virginia.Gov
Virginia Department of Corrections — Public Safety First

Director

Harold W. Clarke

Photo of Harold W. Clarke, Director. Harold W. Clarke grew up in the Canal Zone in Panama. After graduating from Doane College in Crete, Nebraska in 1974, Mr. Clarke joined the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services as a counselor. He rose through the department, becoming a unit manager, deputy warden, and then warden at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in 1987. In August of 1990, he was appointed Director of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, a position he held until 2005, when he left Nebraska to become the Secretary of the Washington State Department of Corrections. In November of 2007, Mr. Clarke left Washington to become the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Correction.

In August 2010, he completed a 2-year term as President of the American Correctional Association. Mr. Clarke has also served as President of the Association of State Correctional Administrators and served on the Board of Trustees of Doane College 2002 – 2004.

His awards include the Legacy Award from the Association of Women Executives in Corrections in 2007, the Pioneer Human Services Partner of the Year Award in 2006, the Michael Francke Award from the Association of State Correctional Administrators in 1997, the Citizen of the Year Award from the Nebraska Association of Substance Abuse Directors in 1996, the Dedicated Correctional Service Award in 1994, the Martin Luther King Service award in 1991 and Honor “D” Award from Doane College in October 2007.