RALEIGH – Crime Control and Public Safety Secretary Bryan Beatty named Jonathan S. Williams deputy secretary for the department effective Sept.1.  

In his new position, Williams will be responsible for the Governor's Crime Commission, Victim's Compensation Services and Law Enforcement Support Services divisions.  Together these divisions administer more than $40 million annually in federal and state funds that support improvements to the statewide criminal justice system, improve court technology, assist victims of crime, and provide equipment to law enforcement agencies.  Secretary Beatty also appointed Williams to represent the department on the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission, which advises the General Assembly.

Williams joined the department in 1999 as deputy general counsel and legislative liaison before becoming general counsel. He was named assistant secretary in 2003 with oversight of the Fiscal Affairs, Information Systems, Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness sections. 

“Jon has an exemplary track record for handling many difficult tasks with accuracy and insight,” Beatty said. “His demonstrated leadership within the department, combined with his legal background and experience dealing with crime victims makes him the ideal candidate for this position.”

Prior to joining the department, Williams practiced law for nine years in his hometown of Goldsboro.  For six years his clients included all children who were victims of abuse or neglect for the Guardian ad Litem program in Wayne County.

While in Goldsboro, Williams served as president of the Wayne County Bar Association and as the founding chair of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers' Young Lawyers Division. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the N.C. Center for Voter Education. Williams earned his Bachelor's and law degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At the law school he received awards for the highest grades in constitutional law and in trial advocacy and was president of the Student Bar Association.

Williams lives in Raleigh with his wife, Rose, and their two children. 

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