Alice J. Ford, Secretary
James W. Curran, Commissioner of Correction

301 W. Preston Street, Baltimore 1 Telephone: 837-9000

Prior to 1916, the Maryland Penitentiary and the Maryland House
of Correction were autonomous institutions operating under the juris-
diction of a separate Board of Directors and a Board of Managers
appointed by the Governor. By Chapter 556, Acts of 1916, these insti-
tutions were administered by the State Board of Prison Control. By
Chapter 29, Acts of 1922, the Board of Welfare superseded the Board
of Prison Control and administered the prisons. By Chapter 69, Acts
of 1939, the Department of Correction and the Board of Correction
assumed all rights, powers, and duties which had formerly been vested
in the Board of Welfare.

By Chapter 758, Acts of 19B3, the Superintendent of Prisons became
the administrator of the Department. The Board of Correction estab-
lished departmental policies and appointed the executive personnel
of the institutions under the jurisdiction of the Department on the
recommendations made by the Superintendent of Prisons (Code 1957,
Art. 27, secs. 667, 669-71, 675, 677). The 1962 General Assembly
repealed Article 27, Sections 667-710, of the 1957 Code and 1961 Sup-
plement and enacted new Sections 667 to 704, inclusive, to revise and
change the laws governing the administration of the Department of
Correction. Chapter 123 of the Acts of 1962 established the Advisory
Board and created the office of Commissioner of Correction.

The Advisory Board consists of a Chairman and six associate mem-
bers, at least one of whom must be a woman, and the Chairman of
the Board of Parole and Probation as an ex officio member. The
members are appointed by the Governor for four-year terms. The
Board studies and observes procedures in and the development of
progress of the penal system. It may make suggestions and give
advice to the Commissioner of Correction as to the operations and
administration of the Department and of its several institutions and
agencies.

In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 123 of the Acts of
1962, the Commissioner of Correction is appointed by the Governor,
by and with the consent and advice of the Senate. In the operation
and conduct of the Department, the Commissioner is responsible solely
to the Governor (Code 1957, 1962 Supp., Art. 27, secs. 667-704).

The staff of the Department of Correction plans, establishes, and
directs programs of administration for the various correctional facili-
ties. The institutions carry on a program of classification, education
and vocational training, employment, and the other segments of
rehabilitative treatment.

The institutions and camps have well-developed programs of em-
ployment. Inmates are assigned to a wide variety of institutional
maintenance tasks, farming and dairying activities, and to work in
the diversified State Use Industries Program of the Department of
Correction.

The State Use Industries present opportunities for the development
and reactivation of useful and economically profitable occupational
skills. The programs also provide necessary goods and services to
public agencies eligible to purchase them. Each institution operates a
laundry which serves both the institution and other State agencies
and institutions.

The Division of Classification and Education supervises the collec-
tion and recording of all information necessary to permit the proper
classification of inmates, at each institution, according to their abilities
and to aid in their rehabilitation. Educational activities include aca-