Governor Janet Mills said Sept. 9 that Randall A. Liberty, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Corrections, will be leaving his position on October 1, after more than four decades of corrections, military, and law enforcement service to Maine and the nation.

As Commissioner, Liberty has earned international acclaim for developing and implementing the Maine Model, an approach to corrections emphasizing rehabilitation, mutual respect, human dignity, community reintegration, and public safety, said a news release from the Gvernor's office. As a result, Maine’s recidivism rate has dropped to one of the lowest in the nation, with a reincarceration rate of 21% — a 15% decline since 2008.

“Randy Liberty’s life and career reflect his profound belief that every person deserves the opportunity for redemption. Only in Maine, and only in America, could a young corrections officer once assigned to guard his own father in a county jail go on to lead transformational change across corrections systems around the world,” said Governor Janet Mills, in the release.

“As Commissioner, Randy drew on personal experience to ensure our Corrections system treats all people with dignity, gives them hope, and offers them the opportunity to build better lives," she said. "I am profoundly grateful for his leadership, his compassion, and his more than four decades of service to Maine people.”           

“It has been the honor of my career to serve alongside the extraordinary team at the Maine Department of Corrections. Together, we created the Maine Model, which has become the gold standard for rehabilitation and reducing recidivism,” said Commissioner Randy Liberty, in the release. “I am deeply grateful to every Department employee whose dedication made this work possible, and to Governor Mills for her steadfast trust and support as we’ve worked to redefine what corrections can look like.”

Through the Maine Model, more than 50 residents have obtained remote computer jobs from within prison, hundreds have earned release to supervised community confinement, and more than a thousand have had access to post-secondary education in the same programs available to students who are not residing in a correctional facility. Those residents graduating from college while in a Maine Department of Corrections facility have a .05 percent likelihood of returning to custody.

During Liberty’s previous tenure as Warden of the Maine State Prison, his team established a Veterans Unit, which includes an American Legion Post and which raises and trains service dogs for disabled veterans throughout Maine. More than 120 residents have been certified as Master Gardeners, providing nutritious meals, resulting in reduced medical concerns and lower medical expenses. Vocational training, universal medication for substance use disorder, and wellness programming for staff have been foundational to the department’s success.  

Prior to becoming Warden in 2015, Liberty served for more than 26 years in the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office, including nine as the elected sheriff, during which time he focused on incarcerated veterans, drug enforcement, substance use education, and treatment of addiction.

Liberty served in the military for 24 years, including 21 in the Army National Guard and Army Reserves. He served as a Military Policeman, Mountain Infantryman, Drill Sergeant, and as a Chief Instructor at the United States Military Academy, West Point. He deployed to Korea, Italy, and for ten months served as command sergeant major of a transition team embedded with Iraqi infantry in Fallujah, Iraq. His military awards include the Bronze Star Medal for actions during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Governor Mills announced that Deputy Commissioner Anthony Cantillo will assume the role of Acting Commissioner upon Commissioner Liberty’s retirement.

“I’m looking forward to supporting the great accomplishments of Commissioner Liberty and the Maine Department of Corrections team as a whole. It is a privilege to lead an organization that is seen as a guiding light in the field of corrections and to serve the people of Maine,” said Deputy Commissioner Anthony Cantillo.

Cantillo began his Department of Corrections career as a correctional officer at the Maine State Prison in 2013 and later served as its Deputy Warden. As Warden of the Maine Correctional Center, he oversaw the completion and transition to a new facility in 2022. He was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Corrections in 2023. Cantillo is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine School of Social Work.