Board appoints Karina Garcia as PREA ombudsman after nationwide search

The Board of Criminal Justice announced the selection of Karina Garcia as the new PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) ombudsman, effective July 1. The appointment followed a nationwide recruitment that drew 47 applicants (36 meeting minimum qualifications), an 11-candidate remote interview round and a four-person finalist in-person panel.

Board secretary Sydney Ziker, a member of the selection committee, summarized the process and said the finalists had diverse backgrounds and that Garcia's operational experience in statewide re-entry operations and her leadership roles set her apart. An interim PREA ombudsman, James Booker, served while the search proceeded.

Chairman Nichols read excerpts of a supervisory recommendation highlighting Garcia's oversight of statewide re-entry operations during a vacancy and her commitment to compliance, operations and staff development. General Welch and other board members noted that Garcia is an alumnus of internal leadership-development programs and that her selection supports continuity and internal promotion.

The PREA ombudsman reports directly to the board and is charged with independent review of PREA compliance, investigations of sexual abuse or harassment allegations, and serving as a public point of contact for families and advocates. The board recorded the approved motion in the meeting minutes; a second was received, and the motion passed.