By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Governor Bob Riley has appointed Richard Allen as the new prison commissioner. Donal Campbell announced last week he was resigning as Alabama's Commissioner of Corrections to pursue other opportunities. His resignation takes effect February 28th. Allen served in the U-S army before attending law school and worked as a law clerk for the Alabama Supreme Court. He was also the Chief Deputy Attorney General under three Attorneys General before being named prison commissioner. In addition, Governor Bob Riley also named his Deputy Legal Advisor, Vernon Barnett, as Chief Deputy Commissioner of Corrections. Barnett has been Deputy Legal Advisor since May 2004 and served as Deputy solicitor general and assistant attorney general from 1997 to 2004.