New York State Department of Correctional Services Inmate Admission and Release Files

Numerical by inmate identification number.

In 1975, the Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) received a federal grant to replace its pre-1976 inmate history system with the Offender Based State Corrections Information System (OBSCIS). OBSCIS was designed to track inmate movement throughout the correctional system. It was also used to support operational studies and studies of population trends and characteristics. DOCS generated annual OBSCIS Admission and Release data files for research use.

The Admission and Release files contain criminal and demographic data on all inmates admitted to and released from DOCS facilities between 1976 and 1984. Each record identifies inmate's name, gender, ethnicity, education level, occupation, drug use, type of prior record and marital status. Each record also contains information on the crime committed and sentence imposed.

The admission record further describes the circumstance of the admission, including admission date, type and facility. The release record describes the conditions of the inmate's release from department custody, and includes release date, type, facility and whether the release is a first parole.

"Users' Guide to the Dept. of Correctional Services Offender Based State Corrections Information System, Admission and Release Files, 1976-1984" (prepared by Archives staff) is available at the repository.

Extensive hard copy documentation (provided by the Dept. of Correctional Services) concerning the use of this series is also available at the repository.

Restricted. Inmate names are suppressed in the public use copy.