AUGUSTA — Gov. Angus King has named Joseph Brannigan, executive director of Shalom House in Portland, as chairman of the Advisory Committee on State Correctional Facilities Improvement.

The Advisory Committee was established by King to address issues of the aging prison system and expected prison population increases. The committee advises the Department of Corrections and the governor about changes and improvements needed. Recommendations are due by Jan. 1.

Brannigan said, “This is an ambitious, but extremely important undertaking. The state has an opportunity to make a significant improvement to the corrections system. Maine has the second highest per-capita costs in the nation for incarcerating prisoners. … Our duties are to recommend a prison system that is more efficient and less costly, and to improve programs for both adult and juvenile offenders.”