Finding Aid Search

Title

Registers of commitments to prisons

Series Number

A0603

Summary

These registers report summary information on incarcerated individuals committed to state correctional institutions and selected county penitentiaries each month. Information is handwritten in columns on preprinted pages which were later bound into volumes for each year. Monthly reports from each institution provide the following information: name of incarcerated individual; county where convicted; crime; court; judge; date of sentence; date received at prison; term; and remarks (such as previous prison terms).

Creator

• New York (State). Governor

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Executive pardons, respites, commutations, restorations of citizenship, and certificates of good conduct

Series Number

13253

Summary

This series consists of executive pardons, respites, commutations, restorations of citizenship, and certificates of good conduct issued to convicted criminals by the State of New York. Each clemency record is stamped with the case number and, with the exception of earlier years, the date it was filed. Information provided by each record includes: county where convicted; month and year of conviction; name of criminal; crime convicted of; sentence; type of clemency granted; terms and conditions of clemency, if applicable.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of State. Bureau of Miscellaneous Records

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Department of State executive pardons

Series Number

B0042

Summary

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.

Title

Name index to executive pardons, respites, commutations, restorations of citizenship and certificates of good conduct

Series Number

B1201

Summary

This series serves as a name index to executive pardons, respites, commutations, restorations of citizenship, and certificates of good conduct in series 13253. It likely indexes other record series created by the Department of State that document executive clemency actions, as well. Information includes name, type of clemency granted, date clemency granted, and file number. Crime, date of conviction and county where convicted are sometimes included.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of State. Bureau of Miscellaneous Records

Access Restrictions

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

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

Executive pardons and commutations

Series Number

B2843

Summary

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.

Creator

• New York (State). Governor (2011-2021 : Cuomo)

Title

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.

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

Restoration of citizenship rights application ledgers

Series Number

A0628

Summary

Articles I and IV of the State Constitution authorize the governor to grant executive clemency to convicted criminals (Executive Law, Sections 15-19). Among the types of clemency offered is restoration of citizenship rights, by which the governor restores civil rights lost as a result of a conviction (such as right to vote, right to hold public office). These volumes were maintained to track the status of applications to the governor for restoration of citizenship rights.

Access Restrictions

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

Title

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.

Title

Respites and commutations

Series Number

B0048

Summary

This series consists of respites and commutations. The governor has the authority to grant pardons and respites. The respites concern stays of execution for individuals sentenced to death; commutations are reductions of sentences. Respites and commutations normally include the name of the convicted felon, crime, date, court, original sentence, commutation and place of incarceration.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of State

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Executive clemency and pardon case files

Series Number

A0597

Summary

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.

Title

Governor extradition case files

Series Number

B1416

Summary

This series consists of extradition case files for criminals in New York State for whom extradition has been requested by other states. Case files typically include original typed copy of extradition case control card; correspondence to extradition secretary from district attorneys; New York governor's warrant and authorization to return fugitive to requesting state; certificate that the requisition is honored and warrant issued; correspondence from extradition secretary of requesting state to New York governor; requisition and agent's authorization of requesting governor.

Access Restrictions

Restricted: Portions of the files are restricted under provisions of the Public Officers Law Art. 6 (Freedom of Information Law).

Title

Executive restorations of citizenship rights

Series Number

B0046

Summary

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.

Title

Executive clemency application status ledgers

Series Number

A0626

Summary

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.

Title

Restoration of citizenship rights application case files

Series Number

A0585

Summary

Articles I and IV of the State Constitution authorize the governor to grant executive clemency to convicted criminals (Executive Law, Section 15-19). Among the types of clemency offered is restoration of citizenship rights, by which the governor restores civil rights lost as a result of a conviction (such as right to vote, or right to hold public office). This series served as a central file of documentation relating to applications to the governor for restoration of citizenship rights.

Access Restrictions

Certain records in this series may be exempt from disclosure. State Archives staff will review requests for specific documents and disclose pursuant to New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL).

Title

Register of commutations for female inmates

Series Number

B0060

Summary

This series consists of a register of females whose sentences were commuted and who were discharged from the Women's Prison at Auburn. Included are name and number of inmate; county; crime; court; judge; date sentenced; date received; term; commutation earned; date discharged; jail time; and remarks.

Creator

• New York State Prison for Women

Access Restrictions

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

Title

New York State Governor extradition requisition and mandate registers and blotters

Series Number

A0599

Summary

This series documents the governor's responsibilities as chief executive officer of the state relating to extradition of persons to or from New York State. "Requisitions" were requests by the governor to governors of other states for extradition of persons present in those states to New York. "Mandates" were requests from governors of other states to the governor of New York for extradition of persons present in New York to those states. The governor exercised final approval over these mandates.

Access Restrictions

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

Title

New York State Assistant Counsel to the Governor Subject and correspondence files

Series Number

B2556

Summary

This series consists of correspondence and subject files relating to mental health policy, clemency, the care of people with mental disabilities, the Willowbrook State School investigation, the reorganization of the Department of Mental Hygiene, the Rockland Psychiatric Center investigation, mental health and criminal justice legislation, and a state prison task force. Records include outgoing and some incoming correspondence, reports, draft memorandums, studies, notes and background materials.

Creator

• New York (State). Assistant Counsel to the Governor

Access Restrictions

Records may contain restricted material. Consult with archivist before use.

Title

Auburn Prison register of commutations

Series Number

B0031

Summary

This series consists of records of incarcerated individuals discharged after their sentences were "commuted," Entries lists name; county; crime; term; date of sentence; date received at prison; shop incarcerated individual worked in; date of discharge; and remarks. Later volumes court; judge and commutation earned, and prison shop they worked in.

Creator

• Auburn Prison

Access Restrictions

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