Senate confirms director of SC’s probation and parole agency

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Jerry Adger has officially taken the helm of South Carolina’s probation and parole agency.

The state Senate voted unanimously this week to confirm Adger as director of the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. He was previously inspector general of the state’s prisons agency.

Adger’s career in criminal justice began in 1977 as a fingerprint analyst at the FBI. During his 23 years at the State Law Enforcement Division, his jobs ranged from special agent to internal affairs. He went on to the Department of Juvenile Justice and Department of Corrections.

Adger replaces Kela Thomas, whose last day was Jan. 1. He is among three blacks in Gov. Nikki Haley’s 16-member Cabinet.

The agency of 650 employees supervises about 32,000 people.