Finding Aid Search

Title

Criminal case documents

Series Number

J2011

Summary

This series consists of documents filed in criminal cases heard and decided by the justices of the Supreme Court of Judicature in their capacity as judges of the Court of Oyer and Terminer in Albany County. Documents include writs of venire facias juratores, commanding the sheriff to empanel a jury; bills of indictment by the grand jury; recognizances of bail for the appearance of defendants and witnesses; records of conviction; and a few other documents of uncertain origin.

Creator

• New York (State). Supreme Court of Judicature (Albany)

Access Restrictions

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

Title

General and special term minute books

Series Number

J0130

Summary

Minute books for 1797-1800 contain grand jury proceedings and minutes of trials and sentencing. The series also contains special rules or orders granted upon special motions, orders issued in real property proceedings, appointments of commissioners to screen candidates for attorney or counsellor in the Supreme Court, and general procedural rules.

Creator

• New York (State). Supreme Court of Judicature (Albany)

Access Restrictions

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

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

Eastchester records

Series Number

A4443

Creator

• Eastchester (N.Y. : Town)

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this 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

Bills of exceptions

Series Number

J0021

Summary

This series consists of bills of exceptions, which were submitted by attorneys for defendants in inferior courts (civil or criminal) who intended to apply for a writ of error. The bill summarizes the proceedings to which exception is taken and is certified and signed by the judge (or judges) of the lower court.

Creator

• New York (State). Supreme Court of Judicature

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Rockville Centre police blotters

Series Number

A4646

Creator

• Rockville Centre (N.Y. : Village)

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Abstracts of convictions and sentences returned by county clerks

Series Number

B0044

Summary

The series consists of abstracts compiled by state county clerks and forwarded to the secretary of state's office. Information includes convict's name, court, term, crime, and sentence. There is no name index.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of State

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Register of men returned for violation of parole

Series Number

B0130

Summary

This series consists of information on men returned to Elmira for parole violations. Information includes name and number; date of return; date of first admission; maximum sentence or "Class" number; crime; county of sentencing; previous occupation; previous incarcerations; age; marital status; color; temperate or intemperate; highest educational level; number of times at Elmira; city or country where born; religion; and date when maximum sentence expires; may include I.Q. score. Records are restricted.

Creator

• Elmira Reformatory

Access Restrictions

Summary information on adult incacerated individuals 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

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

Elmira Reformatory admission registers

Series Number

B0131

Summary

This series consists of 11 volumes of registers containing summary information on incarcerated individuals at the time of their admission to Elmira. The registers cover the period from May 24, 1877 to December 27, 1950 and consecutive numbers from 1 to 51274. Registers covering the period from October 14, 1886 to December 4, 1891 and consecutive numbers 2399 to 4973 are missing. Registers provide consecutive number; name of incarcerated individual; date of admission; date of sentence; maximum sentence; crime; county of sentencing; court; judge; age; height; weight; complexion; eye color; hair color; state or country of nativity; nationality; temperate or intemperate; and religion.

Creator

• Elmira Reformatory

Access Restrictions

Summary information on adult incarcerated individuals 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

Supreme Court of Judicature summaries of testimony given in circuit courts and courts of oyer and terminer

Series Number

J3011

Summary

This fragmentary series consists of summaries of testimony and proceedings in the Circuit Courts and Courts of Oyer and Terminer. At the head of each document are the names of the courts, the venue, the date, and the names of the presiding justices. Following are entries for each case (civil or criminal) heard by the justices.

Creator

• New York (State). Supreme Court of Judicature

Access Restrictions

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

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

Department of Law press releases and related documentation

Series Number

B1401

Summary

This series consists of press releases and related material summarizing announcements or action taken by the New York State Attorney General relating to lawsuits, indictments, investigations, prosecutions, pending legislation, staff appointments, and legal agreements. Attached to many of the press releases are legal documents, reports, testimony, speeches, and other background materials.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Law

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Reports of admissions to and discharges from county jails

Series Number

B0045

Summary

This series consists of statistical summary reports of admissions to and discharges from county jails. Admission reports contain summaries of the number of offenses; formal committals; felon's age, sex, race, nationality, occupational skills, marital status, past prison record or reformatory history, parents, religion, habits; stolen property value; sentences; discharge information and report date. Discharge reports contain summaries of number discharged; offenses; discharge date; discharge mechanisms; time in prison; number remaining in jail and the number received since the last report.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of State

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Governor printed reports and studies

Series Number

B0294

Summary

Executive Chamber staff maintained this report file to track the status of current policies and issues. The file includes draft and final versions of the governor's annual messages to the legislature; reports and plans of state agencies, commissions, task forces, advisory boards, councils, and private businesses hired by the state; state budget records; and statistical reports. These reports cover numerous subjects, such as: health care; child welfare; domestic violence; substance abuse; crime; gambling; education; economic conditions; tourism; and pollution.

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Auburn Prison incarcerated individual parole files

Series Number

B0082

Summary

This series contains records created or compiled by the State Board of Parole in relation to parole of incarcerated individuals from Auburn Prison. For each individual applying for parole, there is a folder with records documenting the entire process of parole from admission into the state correctional system through release on parole and return to confinement for any parole violation.

Creator

• New York (State). Board of Parole

Access Restrictions

Summary information on adult incarcerated individuals 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 Police blotters

Series Number

13445

Summary

This series contains police blotters that were generated by approximately 170 local State Police units. Blotters are a daily record of the activities of a Troop Headquarters or substation. They are maintained on an annual basis. The information recorded in the blotters usually concerns the comings and goings of police officers, communication received and sent, and other routine activity. The entries in the blotter are in short narrative form of usually one or two sentences and are factual in tone.

Creator

• New York (State). Division of State Police

Access Restrictions

Some information in the blotters may be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Law (Public Officers Law Art. 6).