Research

Administrative History

Under the security risk program, the Civil Service Commission first determined, subject to court review, what private organizations or groups were subversive and then designated state agencies and individual positions as "security agencies" or "positions."

An applicant, eligible, or employee found through questionnaire (administered to all employees and applicants), special investigation, or other means (e.g. accusation, previous police record) to be a member or former member of a subversive organization was considered a security risk and could be refused entrance to an examination or certification on an eligibility list for a security position. If already a State employee, he could be transferred or suspended without pay from a security position. All such actions, however, were subject to appeal to the Commission. A special Security Unit in the Department was created in 1953 to investigate and coordinate with police agencies the investigation of applicants, eligibles, and public employees. The unit's investigation files were transferred to the State Police in 1960 and are included with the Non-Criminal Investigation Files now held by the State Archives.

The Commission and a Security Risk Committee of high Department officials designated security agencies and positions and subversive organizations, handled security risk appeals, established program procedures, and monitored and administered the State's security risk program.