Above is an image of the Summer 1990 Correction News front page story and photo on the appointment of Allyn R. Sielaff as DOC Commissioner. In the photo, Mayor Dinkins congratulates Commissioner Sielaff.

Other photos and stories related to Capt. Peter Meringolo being presented with a public service award for his action quelling a disturbance at AMKC, Investigation & Discipline Unit being honored for capturing a Rikers escapee, the Pipe Band taking 2nd Place Honors in St. Patrick's Day parade, and the passing of 33-year veteran CO Edward Weldon.

Mayor David N. Dinkins announced the appointment of Allyn R. Sielaff as commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction on March 5 after an intensive, nation-wide search.

Mayor Dinkins said, "Allyn R. Sielaff takes on a challenging job managing a department growing faster than any other in our government. He will direct a staff of 12,000 employees with a budget of $765 million.

"He takes charge of our correction system at a time when the scourge of drugs has challenged the capacity of our legal and judicial system.

"To reduce the pressure on our courts and jails will require imaginative programs to divert those convicted of crime into community based services. These are just the kinds of programs which Commissioner Sielaff has had great success in his previous positions."

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Commissioner Sielaff assumed the top correction post March 12, moving to New York from Cleveland. During the last 22 years, Commissioner Sielaff has headed four state correction systems, a court system and practiced law.

From 1982 to 1986 he headed the Department of Correction for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to that he spent two years as deputy secretary for Transportation and Public Safety in Virginia.

From 1968 to 1979, Commissioner Sielaff headed correction departments for the states of Wisconsin, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

Commissioner Sielaff received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Case Western Reserve University. He received a Juris Doctorate degree from Cleveland State University.

He and his wife, Marianne, a registered nurse, have two adult sons, Terry and Timothy.

Since assuming his post Commissioner Sielaff has developed a 15-point alternative to incarceration plan that is nearing the implementation stage. The plan will be implemented by Assistant Commissioner Rosemarie Bonacum.

He has established a task force, headed by Deputy Warden Michael Pastena, on violence reduction which will study the issue of violence and make recommendations to him on ways to reduce the level of violence in the city's 15 jails.

Commissioner Allyn R. Sielaff The image and caption above accompanied his first DOC newsletter column on Page 2 of the Summer 1990 issue.

He has established a panel of uniformed and civilian managers chaired by Division Chief Joseph Bussetti which will standardize procedures in evaluating uniformed employees for promotion to the managerial ranks of assistant deputy warden and above.

Commissioner Sielaff is also improving Rikers Island security and overhauling the employee disciplinary system.

In future articles, I will cover other issues of interest and importance to you.

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