Dannemora State Hospital Inmate Commitment Files

Rough alphabetical order by inmate's last name.

These files contain certificates of recovery, statements of transfer, negatives of photographs, inventories of inmates' possessions, applications for writs of habeas corpus, inmate correspondence, newspaper clippings, and orders for withdrawal of writs of habeus corpus.

These files were generated by the officials at Dannemora State Hospital who decided to separate inmates' commitment records from the main case files. (Matteawan State Hospital kept these records in the main case files.) The majority of the files contain only statements of transfer, inventories of inmates' possessions, and certificates of recovery. The first two items describe from what institution the inmate was transferred and the articles which were in his possession. The last record is a carbon copy of a deposition stating that the inmate has recovered from his mental illness and is capable of serving the time he was originally sentenced after his conviction. These files should be used in conjunction with the inmate case files of the Central New York Psychiatric Center (series A1500).

Restricted in accordance with Section 33.13, Mental Hygiene Law, relating to confidentiality of clinical records. Access permitted under certain conditions upon application to and approval by the Office of Mental Health.