Minutes of the Board of Classification

The Board first met on March 27, 1893. It had authority to assign male inmates to one of four divisions based on their disciplinary needs; transfer inmates between divisions; recommend for or against parole; consider parole applications from inmates' parents; and request parole agents to investigate the conditions of the homes of paroled inmates.

Three volumes of minutes document the actions and decisions of the Board. By-laws of the institution required that the school stenographer act as secretary of the board and keep a record of its proceedings in a book for that purpose.

Minutes of the March 27, 1893 - October 26, 1898 are in narrative form and provide date of meeting; names of board members present; names of inmates and actions taken regarding their parole or division assignments; and inmate's offense or other cause of the Board's action or decision (sometimes). These minutes are typescript sheets glued onto the pages of volumes, except for March 21, 1897-December 15, 1897, when minutes were handwritten directly into the volume.

Minutes of November 1, 1898-April 7, 1909 contain very little narrative and consist mostly of lists, providing inmate's name; action taken regarding the inmate; parole date (if inmate was paroled); and reasons for actions taken (October 17, 1904-April 7, 1909 only).

Volume list.

Restricted in accordance with Executive Law, Section 501-c(1)(b), relating to confidentiality of individuals in custody of the Division for Youth (now Office of Children and Family Services).