Commissioners Office

The New Hampshire Department of Corrections Commissioners Office consists of the Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner, who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Executive Council. The Commissioner is appointed to serve four-year terms while the Assistant Commissioner serves at the pleasure of the Commissioner..

The Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner provide executive leadership and direction to the Department. All Division Directors report directly to either the Commissioner or Assistant Commissioner.

Commissioner Helen E. Hanks

Commissioner Helen E. Hanks has served as the New Hampshire Department of Corrections Commissioner since November 8, 2017 and was re-confirmed for a second term in October 13, 2021.

Commissioner Hanks joined the New Hampshire Department of Corrections in 2003 as a social worker with the Division of Medical and Forensic Services and was assigned to the New Hampshire State Prison for Men. In 2005, Commissioner Hanks was appointed Deputy Director of Medical & Forensic Services. In 2011, the Governor John Lynch nominated Commissioner Hanks to be the Director of Medical & Forensic Services and was confirmed following Executive Council approval. On September 17, 2014, Governor Maggie Hassan and the Executive Council unanimously confirmed Commissioner Hanks to be the Assistant Commissioner. On November 8, 2017, Governor Chris Sununu and the Executive Council unanimously confirmed Commissioner Hanks as the seventh Commissioner and the first woman confirmed to the role of Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Corrections.

Commissioner Hanks has a Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a minor in Pre-Law, and a Masters Degree in Management. Commissioner Hanks serves as co-chair of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Mental Illness and the Corrections System and member of the New Hampshire Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission. Commissioner Hanks serves as the Correctional Leaders Association Mental Health Committee Chair, member of the Correctional Leaders Association Recruitment and Retention Committee, member of the Correctional Leaders Association Reentry and Community Corrections Committee, and member of the Correctional Leaders Association Restrictive Housing Committee.

Assistant Commissioner Paul D. Raymond Jr.

Assistant Commissioner Raymond was confirmed as the New Hampshire Department of Corrections Assistant Commissioner on September 7, 2022.

Assistant Commissioner Raymond joined the New Hampshire Department of Corrections as the Director of Security and Training on October 27, 2021 following unanimous confirmation by Governor Chris Sununu and the Executive Council. In 2022, through legislation, the Director of Security and Training was renamed the Director of Personnel and Information. On September 7, 2022, Governor Chris Sununu and the Executive Council appointed Assistant Commissioner Raymond as the Assistant Commissioner.

Prior to joining the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, Assistant Commissioner Raymond served for more than a decade with the Department of Safety including roles with Homeland Security & Emergency Management and as the Strategic Communications Administrator for the Office of the Commissioner. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Sununu tasked Assistant Commissioner Raymond with managing the State's Joint Information Center from March 2020 until June 2021, which served as a liaison with members of news and media to promote effective sharing of information during the pandemic.

Assistant Commissioner Raymond holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management with a focus in Logistics and Operations and a Masters of Science in Public Safety Administration. Assistant Commissioner Raymond is a Lean Black Belt, and graduated from the year-long Master Public Information Officer Program at the Federal Emergency Management Agency Emergency Management Institute in 2022.

Assistant Commissioner Raymond serves as the Advisory Board Vice-Chair for Best Buddies New Hampshire and as the Region 1 Director for the National Information Officers Association.

Our team of Corrections Professionals work in unison to engage residents under our care, custody and/or supervision to paths of rehabilitation based on individual needs. We offer diverse career opportunities including but not limited to positions as corrections officers, probation parole officers, counselors, nurses, maintenance staff, chefs and other critical professions necessary to provide services at all our sites. Joining our team means keeping our communities safer, truly changing people’s lives and really making a difference. To improve the life of one person whose journey through the criminal justice system brings them to our Department means you improve a family, a community and our State overall.

Come join the NH Department of Corrections and make a difference with us!