The first state constitution of 1777 empowered the governor to grant reprieves and pardons to persons convicted of crimes other than treason or murder. Each pardon in this series contains the name and place of the court where the convicted person was tried, crime convicted of, sentence, place where sentenced to be served or serving, name of convicted person, date of pardon, name of governor issuing the pardon, and where applicable, conditions upon which the pardon is contingent.
Creator
New York (State). Department of State
Access Restrictions
Microfilm is not available for duplication or inter-library loan.
This series consists of executive pardons and commutations issued to convicted adult and youthful offenders during the administration of Governor Andrew Cuomo. Records include the certificate signed by the Governor and the Secretary of State as well as correspondence and press releases pertaining to the clemency process.
Executive clemency and pardon application ledgers and correspondence
Series Number
A0629
Summary
Article 18 of the 1777 State Constitution authorized the governor to grant pardons and reprieves. This power was continued in the constitutions of 1821 and 1846 and expanded to include commutations by Article 5 of the Constitution of 1894. This series consists of ledgers and correspondence maintained by the governor's office to track actions taken and decisions made regarding applications for executive clemency. These volumes document various types of clemency including pardons, commutations, and restorations of citizenship rights.
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.
Executive orders for commutations, pardons, restorations, and respites
Series Number
B0049
Summary
This series consists of executive orders for pardons, commutations, restorations of citizenship or respites. Each order includes the date, convict's name, crime, place where tried, sentence, place of incarceration, and the governor's signature. Commutations also include the commutation terms. Respites also contain date where tried, execution date, and dates of respite. There are no name indexes.
Creator
New York (State). Department of State
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.
The case files in this series document the process of application for and granting of pardons or commutations of sentences by the Governor. Convicts and their families, friends, and attorneys applied to have sentences reduced or terminated and, for convicted felons, to have citizenship rights restored. The files may include letters and petitions to the Governor, copies of court documents, inmate data and conduct records, transcripts of testimony, Governor's commutation statement, and inmate's statement accepting terms of release.
Creator
New York (State). Governor
Access Restrictions
Series is partially restricted. State Archives staff will review requests for specific records and disclose as permitted by New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and other applicable state and federal statutes.
This series consists of printed copies of restorations to citizenship issued by the governor to convicted felons. Information includes the court where the felon was convicted, the date, felon's name, crime, sentence, place and date of incarceration, and the names of the governor, secretary of state and/or deputy secretary of state.
Creator
New York (State). Department of State
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.
Volumes in this series were used to track the status of applications to the governor for pardons or commutations of sentence. The volumes generally provide application number; date(s) of application(s); journal number and page; name; county; crime; court; date of sentence; term; name of prison and date received; date term expires; disposition (pardon or commutation granted or denied and date); and date of actual discharge.
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.