The former director of South Carolina's Corrections Department is joining a Columbia law firm.

Jon Ozmint said Thursday he has joined the Collins & Lacy law firm.

Ozmint is a lawyer and led South Carolina's prison system for eight years. He previously served as deputy attorney general, chief prosecutor of the State Grand Jury and general counsel for the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

Ozmint currently serves as a member of the Sentencing Reform Oversight Commission. He says he chose Collins & Lacy for the firm's commitment to helping South Carolina businesses.

Ozmint received the state's highest award, the Order of the Palmetto, earlier this year.