Westfield State Farm Reformatory Division Receiving Blotters

Numerical by inmate consecutive number.

This series consists of four volumes of receiving blotters providing summary information on approximately 2,500 inmates received at the Westfield State Farm reformatory for women. The volumes cover inmates received during three periods: May 1, 1931 to September 8, 1933; May 3, 1937 to March 30, 1944; and January 1, 1950 to January 7, 1952. The first volume includes information on several defective delinquent inmates received into the institution before all defective delinquent inmates were transferred to Albion in 1931.

The receiving blotters contain one page of information on each inmate compiled when the inmate was received. Categories of information include the following: inmate name, number, and color; nature and date of crime, place of crime, and names of accomplices; date of sentencing, date received, county and court of sentencing, and name of sentencing judge; term and date eligible for parole; place and date of birth; nativity of father and mother and if living or dead; age of inmate when parent died; number of siblings and sequence of inmate in family; marital status of inmate and number of children; use of alcohol and drugs; educational level reached; religion and church attendance; name and address of last three employers with nature of work and salary; permanent residence and place of residence when arrested; name and address of nearest relative; and nature of previous crimes and names of institutions and dates of previous confinements.

Summary information on adult inmates is disclosable under law. State Archives staff will review records containing probation, parole, medical, and juvenile criminal history data and disclose information pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law and Personal Privacy Protection Law. Unless a specific law forbids disclosure indefinitely, all records must be disclosed after 75 years.