Department of Corrections

A Board of Corrections was established in 1896. Following the prison riot in February of 1957, a full-time director was appointed to oversee day-to-day affairs. When the new Department of Health and Welfare was created in 1967, the Board was split into two parts, with the Division of Corrections continuing the regular functions of the office, and a new Board established as a policy-making agency. In 1983, a major reorganization partially severed relations between Corrections and Social Services, and Corrections was formalized as a department in 1985.