1. Management of the prison
2. Application of governing laws
3. Contracts for supplies and work in and for the prison
4. Settle all bills
5. As warden, furnish to prisoners wholesome fare and see that provisions are well and sufficiently cooked and properly served
6. Purchase all supplies of bedding, clothing, fuel and other necessary articles by the quantity and at lowest market rates
7. Charge and custody of the prison with the lands, buildings, furniture, tools, implements, stock and provisions, and every species of property thereto pertaining or within the precincts of
8. Superintend the police of the prison
9. Discipline the convicts
10. Receive and disburse such sums of money as shall be granted by the council for support of prison
11. Annual detailed report that contains a dull and accurate statement of all concerns of the prison for the fiscal year
12. List the convicts received, discharged, pardoned and who died during the year
13. Secure some minister of the Gospel to hold divine service in the prison and instruct prisoners in their moral and religious duties and visit the sick among them
14. Serve all processes within the precincts of the prison
15. See that all judgments passed are strictly but not cruelly enforced
16. Govern and employ prisoners in the manner prescribed by law
17. Rules and regulations of the prison and conformity to respective sentences
18. Manage and oversee all officers and other persons employed in and about the prison
19. See to the quality and quantity of clothing and bedding of convicts
20. Consult the health and comfort of the convicts, and the interests of the Nation
21. Maintain order, enforce obedience, suppress insurrection and riots, effectually prevent escapes and command aid required or necessary
22. As warden and treasurer, renew bond whenever deemed necessary by the Chief and obligate for such sum as may be required by the Chief
23. Require all subordinates to refrain from the use of boisterous, harsh and unbecoming language to the prisoners and to each other while in and about the prison
24. Confer with the Chief for the Chief’s suggestions in regard to management
25. Provide discharged convicts with a decent suit of clothes not to exceed $5
26. Preserve all money and effects in the possession of convicts and restore them to such convicts when discharged or pardoned
27. Order unruly or disobedient convicts kept in solitary confinement and fed on bread and water only for no more than 30 days
28. Provide for each prisoner a copy of the Holy Scriptures and any minister of the Gospel disposed to aid in reforming and instructing prisoners in the moral and religious duties
29. Employ convicts sentenced to hard labor as constantly as may be of benefit to the Nation
30. Ensure no communication be allowed between prisoners and any person without the prison
31. Securely confine prisoners at night in different cells or apartments and if practical, in the day restrict or entirely prevent allcommunication between the
32. Make annual inventory of all property belonging to prison
33. Keep suitable books, regular and complete accounts on all expenses, income, business and concerns of the prison
34. Register all prisoners received, discharged, pardoned or died and such other manners that may be necessary in statistics of the kind
35. Permit authorized persons to examine the books
36. Admit visitors
37. Enter upon his register a minute and correct description of every prisoner received into the prison
38. Adopt a means of best recapture of escaped prisoners
39. Do not allow prisoners tea, coffee, tobacco or other articles of luxury or indulgence except, however, that the board may approve use of sugar and coffee by convicts actively employed at productive labor
40. Execute prisoners when death penalty is sentenced
41. As custodian of public property, at the seat of government keep the Capitol Building and public grounds and commons adjoining all movable property belonging to the Nation that is not in the charge of other officers
42. Keep the capitol, the furniture, and other property therein, the public grounds and commons in a proper state of cleanliness and repair and responsible for the safe keeping and preservation of the same
43. Make improvement and repairs
44. Responsible for keys and fastenings of the exterior doors of the capitol and all rooms not occupied
45. Unlock and open the exterior doors of the capitol during council sessions and the sitting of the supreme court daily
46. Keep the capitol rooms clean and properly ventilated during sessions and supreme court sittings, well warmed and supplied with pure water, cause to be prosecuted every person found guilty or accused of stealing, taking, willfully destroying or defacing or in any manner trespassing upon any public property lawfully in his custody
47. Wait upon, open and adjourn sessions of the supreme court and execute its mandates
48. Wait upon and execute all council orders
49. Provide all fuel, water, and fires for the supreme court room, offices of the executive, treasurer and auditor of accounts
50. Assign an employee to constantly be in attendance during sessions of the senate and council to keep the rooms in proper condition and discharging any other duties of the high sheriff as custodian of the public property
51. See that rooms of the capitol are put back in good condition
52. All shutters securely fastened

And believe it or not, the list continues. . . . . .

Info provided by the Cherokee Nation Cultural Resource Center. For information regarding culture and language, please contact:

cultural@cherokee.org