Governor James Devlin is a fictional character on the HBO drama Oz, played by Željko Ivanek. Character overview James Devlin is the governor of an unspecified U.S. state. His draconian legislation, designed to emphasize punishment in the correctional system, makes him a figure hated by Oz's inmate population and several staff members. He is frequently shown as opportunistic and morally dubious, using his strict laws to deflect attention from his political corruption. Devlin is shown as a sadistic elitist only out for himself, an image he doesn't bother to hide in private. He knows that the public views him as such but will vote for him because he gets the results they want. Season 1 Devlin passes laws prohibiting several basic freedoms, such as smoking and conjugal visits, from inmates statewide; as a result, tension builds within prison walls. He also reinstates the death penalty, which had been abolished in the state for thirty years. Kareem Saïd, an inmate in Oz, and Tim McManus, the manager of Oz's "Emerald City" cell block, openly oppose Devlin. However, the governor's edicts are enforced by Warden Leo Glynn. Saïd decides to protest Devlin's measures by leading Oz's inmates in a prison riot, issuing a list of demands and holding several guards hostage. While Glynn and McManus feel that several of the demands are reasonable, Devlin orders a SORT team to recapture Em City. During the ensuing violence, two guards and six inmates are killed while Em City is left a ruin. Season 2 Devlin has law school dean Alvah Case investigate the riot, offering to appoint him as state attorney general if he prosecutes the guilty parties. However, Case concludes that no one in particular was at fault and suggests that Devlin is just as culpable as the prisoners. When the governor furiously rescinds his appointment offer, Case threatens to run against him in the next election. Devlin is forced to acknowledge Case's findings at a press conference. Meanwhile, Devlin ends funding for McManus' inmate GED program, and decides to make the announcement after Oz's graduation ceremony. However, McManus undermines Devlin's stunt by announcing the completion of the program earlier than the governor anticipated. Off camera, Devlin tells McManus that this ploy will ultimately make no difference as to what the state's voters will think about his actions. After an Oz inmate named Jiggy Walker accuses Devlin of purchasing crack cocaine from him,