Gov. Bruce Rauner has named a director of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice.
Heidi Mueller is currently the agency's program director. She takes over the $120,000 top spot from Candice Jones.
Jones resigned after two years in May. She was in charge when Rauner closed the Kewanee youth center last spring because of a dwindling incarcerated population and new approaches to juvenile discipline.
The 42-year-old Mueller has been with the state since 2012. Prior to her current job, she directed the state's Juvenile Justice Commission for the Human Services Department.
Mueller currently makes $95,000 a year managing department programs including health care, behavioral health services, vocational and recreational programming.
Mueller earned a law degree from the University of Chicago after a psychology and history degree from Macalester College.
