Ispravnik

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.