DATE: Friday, July 11, 1997                 TAG: 9707110665

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   36 lines

NORFOLK PROSECUTOR TO BE HEAD OF STATE DEPARTMENT

Lisa R. McKeel, a deputy commonwealth's attorney in Norfolk, has been appointed director of the Department of Criminal Justice Service in Richmond, Gov. George F. Allen announced Thursday.

McKeel will be in charge of establishing and maintaining training standards for law enforcement workers; forensic science operations; planning program development for the state's criminal justice system; and operating a statewide statistical analysis center in criminal justice.

McKeel could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.

McKeel has also served as special U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. She is a member of the Commission on Youth and a former member of the Governor's Commission on Juvenile Justice Reform.

She received her bachelor's degree in political science from Virginia Commonwealth University and her law degree from George Mason University in 1987.

McKeel has been a prosecutor in Norfolk nearly four years, where she has been in charge of the juvenile and domestic violence team. In that time, she has maintained a high conviction rate, said Commonwealth's Attorney Chuck Griffith.

``Obviously we're very honored and pleased for Lisa,'' Griffith said. ``She has been an excellent prosecutor.''

McKeel has successfully prosecuted several high-profile teen-age murder defendants, such as Chauncey Jackson, who became the one of the youngest killers ever to be sent to death row. She has been a strong advocate of juveniles accused of violent crimes being held accountable for their actions.

McKeel's last day in the Norfolk office is Aug. 1. She starts her new job Aug. 4. KEYWORDS: APPOINTMENT

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