from fire and explosion. It also serves as a board of
appeals for matters connected with the enforce-
ment of the Ere Code and interpretation of conflicts
with local codes.

The Commission has nine members appointed
for five-year terms by the Secretary of Public Safety
and Correctional Services with the approval of the
Governor. Membership must be geographically
representative of the State (Code 1957, Art. 38A).

DIVISION OF CORRECTION

Fred E. Jordan, Jr., Commissioner
Elmanus Herndon, Deputy Commissioner

6776 Reisterstown Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21215 764-4100

The functions of the Division of Correction orig-
inated in the nineteenth century when the Mary-
land Penitentiary and the Maryland House of
Correction were erected.

Prior to 1916, the two prisons were autono-
mous. Each operated under the jurisdiction of ei-
ther a Board of Directors or a Board of Managers
appointed by the Governor. In 1916, these institu-
tions were placed under the administration of the
State Board of Prison Control (Chapter 556, Acts
of 1916). The Board of Welfare superseded the
Board of Prison Control in 1922 to administer the
prisons (Chapter 29, Acts of 1922). In 1939, the
Department of Correction and the Board of Cor-
rection replaced the Board of Welfare (Chapter 69,
Acts of 1939).

The Superintendent of Prisons became adminis-
trator of the Department of Correction in 1953
(Chapter 758, Acts of 1953). The Board of Correc-
tion established departmental policies and ap-
pointed executive personnel for institutions under
the jurisdiction of the Department on recommen-
dations made by the Superintendent of Prisons
(Code 1957, Art. 27, secs. 667, 669-671, 675,
677). In 1962, the Advisory Board of Corrections
replaced the Board of Correction and the Superin-
tendent of Prisons was succeeded by the Commis-
sioner of Correction (Chapter 123, Acts of 1962).
The Department of Correction was renamed the
Department of Correctional Services in 1968
(Chapter 137, Acts of 1968).

All State correctional responsibilities were as-
signed to the Department of Public Safety and
Correctional Services in 1970 (Chapter 401, Acts
of 1970). At that time, the Department of Correc-
tional Services was reorganized as the Division of
Correction and continued to administer adult cor-
rectional facilities subject to the authority of the
Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Ser-
vices. In 1970, a single advisory board for correc-

Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services/377

tions, parole, and probation replaced the Advisory
Board of the Department of Correction, the Advi-
sory Board of the Division of Parole and Probation,
and the Advisory Council for Correctional Services.

The Division of Correction plans, establishes,
and directs the administration of State correctional
facilities. Under the Division's jurisdiction, correc-
tional institutions conduct programs of classifica-
tion, education, vocational training, employment,
substance abuse counseling, psychological/psychi-
atric intervention, security, and support services to
secure residential housing.

Correctional institutions and pre-release units
offer employment programs that permit inmates to
develop or relearn occupational skills. The inmates
are assigned to a variety of maintenance tasks, as
well as to the diversified State Use Industries Pro-
gram. These programs also provide necessary goods
and services to certain public agencies. For example,
several institutions operate their own laundries
which also serve other State facilities.

The Work Release Program was established in
1963 (Chapter 285, Acts of 1963). Under this
program, certain prisoners may leave actual con-
finement during necessary and reasonable hours to
work at gainful employment in the community.
They return to the institution at the end of the work
day. In 1968, this privilege was extended for attend-
ing school (Chapter 551, Acts of 1968). Under
certain conditions, the Commissioner of Correction
may authorize special leave for prisoners to seek
employment or participate in special community
rehabilitation programs. Weekend leaves also may
be granted under certain conditions (Code 1957,
Art. 27, secs. 700A, 700C).

Correctional institutions provide education, in-
cluding academic instruction at both elementary
and secondary school levels, advanced and special-
ized study and vocational and on-the-job training.
Pre-release units offer instruction that prepares in-
mates to obtain high school equivalency certificates.

A county or counties deciding to build or main-
tain a regional detention center may apply to the
Commissioner of Correction for financial aid to
construct or enlarge the facility (Chapter 535, Acts
of 1980). When the Commissioner approves
county construction plans, the State pays part of
the costs. The Commissioner, upon approving
plans which require financial assistance, enters into
written agreement with the county or counties
involved setting forth the rights, powers, duties and
responsibilities of all parties. A convicted offender
. may be sentenced to a regional detention center if
the sentence is for not more than 18 months.

: Community Correctional Centers were intro-
duced in 1972 (Chapter 464, Acts of 1972). Chap-
ter 234, Acts of 1976, renamed them Community