Survey of mentally deficient inmates in county jails

Alphabetic by county.

The series contains approximately twenty-five completed survey forms from physicians at county jails in the state on policies and procedures relating to mentally deficient prisoners. The survey was distributed for the Commission by the Prison Association of New York.

The survey form contains information on the following: policies for examining mentally deficient prisoners; numbers of prisoners considered mentally deficient and insane (during the 12 months ending September 30, 1914); transfer of mentally deficient prisoners to custodial institutions; total number of inmates, number of inmates mentally deficient, number of inmates insane (in December 1914); methods for determining mental deficiency and insanity; and recommendations for more adequate disposition of mental deficiency cases.

The series also contains lists from the New York City Department of Corrections with information on several hundred mentally deficient inmates in city prisons and workhouses in 1914. The information on the lists varies but usually includes name, when committed, charge, and number of times committed.

Microform is available at the New York State Archives through interlibrary loan.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.