AUGUSTA — Maine Gov. Paul LePage has appointed an associate commissioner in the Department of Corrections to serve as the agency’s acting commissioner.

LePage said Monday that Dr. Joseph Fitzpatrick will fill the post left vacant by the departure of Commissioner Joseph Ponte, who accepted a job as commissioner of New York City’s jail system starting next month.

Fitzpatrick is a clinical psychologist who served as Maine Department of Corrections clinical director, as well as associate commissioner for juvenile services.

He said Ponte made significant reforms of Maine’s prison system and said he looks forward “to continuing this progression through a balance of treatment and security advances.”

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