Ispravnik
The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.
Ispravnik
district police chief in pre-revolutionary Russia. The post of ispravnik was instituted in 1775. Until 1862 he was called kapitan-ispravnik and was at the head of the rural (zem-stvo) court, a collegial body that had authority over the district. He was elected by the local dvorianstvo (nobility or gentry) for three years. Several changes were made in 1862: the ispravnik headed the district police administration, his authority became monocrotic and was extended to the district city as well, and he was appointed and removed by the governor.
The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.