(1) The commissioner shall classify all prisoners and segregate the prisoners in all of the state penal institutions and reformatories according to their past records, the probability of their being rehabilitated, the influence such prisoners might exert upon fellow prisoners, and for any other purpose that the commissioner, in his discretion, may deem sufficient for the discipline of the prisoners in any institution or reformatory, and for the rehabilitation of any prisoners.
(2) For the purposes of carrying out subsection (1) of this section, the commissioner shall direct and compel the transfer of any prisoner from any penal institution or reformatory, irrespective of the order of the court committing the prisoner to any one (1) institution or reformatory.