Marilyn E. Farndon, Secretary

c/o Department of Public Safety and
Correctional Services
One Investment Place, Suite 500
Towson 21204-4187 Telephone: 321-3832

The Emergency Number Systems Board was
created in 1979 (Chapter 730, Acts of 1979). The
Board coordinates installation and enhancement of
county 911 systems. A "911 system" automatically
connects a person dialing the digits 911 on a
telephone to an established public safety answering
point from which police, fire, ambulance, or other
public safety services may be dispatched on a
24-hour basis. On or before July 1, 1985, all
counties and Baltimore City are to have in opera-
tion a "911 system," an emergency telephone
number service.

The Board issues guidelines for county 911
system plans, and establishes review procedures for
approval or disapproval of these plans. It sets
criteria for costs reimbursement to counties from
the original 911 Trust Fund and for reimburse-
ment from ongoing funding.

The Board transmits all 911 related information
and procedures to the county executive and county
council, or to the president of the board of county
commissioners of each county, and/or their desig-
nated 911 committee representative. Annually, it
provides the Secretary of Public Safety and Correc-
tional Services with an installation schedule and
funding requirements estimate.

The Board consists of eleven members appointed
to four-year terms by the Governor with the advice
and consent of the Senate. One member represents
a telephone utility company operating in Mary-
land. One member each represents the Maryland
Institute for Emergency Medical Services, the
Maryland State Police, the Maryland Public Ser-
vice Commission, and the Association of Public
Safety Communications Officers. Of two members
representing county fire services in Maryland, one
represents the career fire services and the other the
volunteer fire services. Two members represent
police services in Maryland, and two represent the
public. The Governor designates the chairperson
(Code 1957, Art. 41, secs. 204H-1 through 204H-
8).

DIVISION OF CORRECTION

Arnold J. Hopkins, Commissioner
Elmanus Herndon, Deputy Commissioner

Public Safety and Correctional Services/289

6314 Windsor Mill Rd.
Baltimore 21207 Telephone: 944-7028

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

By Chapter 758, Acts of 1953, the Superinten-
dent of Prisons became the administrator of the
Department. The Board of Correction established
departmental policies and appointed executive per-
sonnel of institutions under the jurisdiction of the
Department on recommendations made by the
Superintendent of Prisons (Code 1957, Art. 27,
secs. 667, 669-71, 675, 677). By Chapter 123, Acts
of 1962, the administration of the Department of
Correction changed. That act established an Advi-
sory Board and created the office of Commissioner
of Correction. In 1968 the Department of Correc-
tion became the Department of Correctional Ser-
vices (Chapter 137, Acts of 1968).

Effective July 1, 1970, all State correctional
responsibilities were assigned to the Department of
Public Safety and Correctional Services (Chapter
401, Acts of 1970). The Department of Correction-
al Services was reestablished as the Division of
Correction and continued exercising central ad-
ministrative control over adult correctional facili-
ties subject to the authority of the Secretary of
Public Safety and Correctional Services. The same
act also abolished the Advisory Board of the
Department of Correction, the Advisory Board of
the Division of Parole and Probation, and the
Advisory Council for Correctional Services, and
created a single advisory board for corrections,
parole, and probation.

The Commissioner of Correction is appointed by
the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional
Services with the approval of the Governor and the
advice and consent of the Senate. The Commis-
sioner is'in sole and active charge of the Division of
Correction and of its several institutions and
agencies, subject only to his responsibility to the
Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Ser-
vices and to the Governor (Code 1957, Art. 27,
secs. 673-674).