Finding Aid Search

Title

Discharge register

Series Number

B0132

Summary

This series consists of summary information of inmates discharged from the Eastern New York Reformatory. Information includes name; date discharged; county where convicted; conviction date; name of court; judge's name; crime; sentence length; former trade or occupation; employment status; color; age; birth place; literacy; height and weight when discharged; previous confinements; type of discharge, transfer information; pardon information; temperate or intemperate; health when admitted and discharged; and religion.

Creator

• Eastern New York Reformatory

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Department of Correctional Services inmate release files

Series Number

17620

Summary

The series consists of the inmate history system subfile known as Release File. The release file contains detailed criminal and demographic data on all inmates released annually from DOCS facilities. The release file contains two record types: the receiving blotter (I-2 record) for all annual releases; and the accompanying release transaction record (I-11 record) which documents the circumstances of the release.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Correctional Services

Access Restrictions

Series is partially restricted. Names of inmates are suppressed in use copy.

Title

Lists of convicts discharged by expiration of sentence or pardon

Series Number

B0043

Summary

The series consists of printed returns of convicts discharged from state prisons, either through expiration of sentence or pardon. Returns were compiled by the clerks of Mt. Pleasant (Sing Sing), Auburn, and Clinton prisons. While they vary in specific format, returns typically provide data on most recent conviction, prior criminal history, and discharge. Basic physical characteristics and limited personal history information are also provided.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of State

Access Restrictions

Restricted: records are very fragile and may be handled only with supervision of an archivist. No photocopying.

Title

Reports of deductions of sentences by prison agents, wardens, and superintendents

Series Number

A0601

Summary

Legislation of 1862 (Chapter 417) allowed convicts in state prisons and penitentiaries to earn commutation of part of their sentence for good conduct or labor performed. Reports in the series provide name of convict; county where convicted; crime; date sentenced; term; prison; date received at prison; months and days earned (in volume three, this column is labeled "commutation"); name of agent and warden making report; date deduction ordered; date writ mailed (rare in Volume 1; consistently appears beginning in Volume 2); and date received in prison (Volume 3 only).

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Indenture agreements

Series Number

A1902

Summary

This series consists of contractual agreements between reformatory managers, inmates, and employers (or "masters") to bind out inmates for vocational training until the age of twenty-one. In return for the inmate's labor, the master agreed to provide the inmate with clothing, room and board, medical care, and educational and vocational training. Each form includes inmate's name and age; master's name; residence; and type of vocational training, e.g. farming, shoemaking, chair making, house painting, carpentry, and brush making. Records are restricted.

Creator

• Western House of Refuge for Juvenile Delinquents (Rochester, N.Y.)

Access Restrictions

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).

Title

Bedford Hills Correctional Facility inmate work release case files

Series Number

B1010

Summary

These records relate to work release programs for approximately sixty inmates during 1973 and 1974. Most of the records pertain to inmates in Bedford's Reformatory Division, although several pertain to inmates in the Prison Division. Inmate files include work release agreement; work release report; request for disbursement of funds; correspondence and memorandums relating to transportation, purchase of clothing, inability to work because of illness, etc.; and several black and white photographs of the inmate.

Creator

• Bedford Hills Correctional Facility

Access Restrictions

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. The identity of victims of sex crimes is not disclosable. Unless a specific law forbids disclosure indefinitely, all records must be disclosed after 75 years.

Title

State Prison of the City of New York (Newgate Prison) register of prisoners discharged

Series Number

B2455

Summary

This single leaf from a bound volume contains summary information on prisoners discharged from the State Prison of the City of New York (Newgate Prison) in 1828 with last names beginning with the letter "C" through "E" only. The inspectors of the prison maintained this record in compliance with Chapter 30 of the Laws of 1796, which required them to submit an annual report to the legislature.

Creator

• New York State Prison (New York, N.Y.)

Access Restrictions

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

Title

New York State Department of Correctional Services inmate admission and release files

Series Number

19684

Summary

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

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Correctional Services

Access Restrictions

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

Title

File of Governor's Commutations of sentence

Series Number

B1243

Summary

This series consists of original copies of commutations of sentences signed by the governor. Most relate to incarcerated individuals at Sing Sing but some for Auburn and Clinton are also included. Information includes name of the individual; county of sentence; name of prison; original prison term; and signature of governor. The official State Seal is affixed to each document.

Creator

• Sing Sing Prison

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Great Meadow Correctional Facility discharge registers

Series Number

B2398

Summary

Inmate information given in these registers commonly includes name, inmate or register number, release date and status, county of conviction, sentence, date received at Great Meadow, and date received in previous facility. No personal information or information about criminal history is usually given.

Creator

• Great Meadow Correctional Facility

Access Restrictions

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. The identity of victims of sex crimes is not disclosable. Unless a specific law forbids disclosure indefinitely, all records must be disclosed after 75 years.