Finding Aid Search

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

Biographical register of federally incarcerated individuals

Series Number

B0129

Summary

This series consists of information relating to incarcerated individuals sent to Elmira from federal courts. Since they were not eligible for parole, the registers document admission to release. Information includes name; date received; country of birth; age; names and addresses of parents and siblings; maximum sentence; dates maximum and minimum sentences expire; family history; incarcerated individual's previous history; physician's report at admission; outline of treatment; mug shots; physical condition at discharge (rarely completed); and discharge date.

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

Intercepted letters to an inmate

Series Number

A3255

Summary

This series consists of transcripts of one inmate's incoming correspondence. Since the institution's superintendent held the originals; it is unlikely that the inmate received the letters. The letters which discuss his and other youths' activities may have been used to help make a parole decision and/or to monitor the inmate's associations once on parole. Subjects include crimes committed or planned and/or arrests of and legal proceedings against youths; parties; drinking; sexual encounters and the inmate's chances of being released.

Creator

• New York House of Refuge

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Records on appeal remitted from the Supreme Court, General Term, Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, and Court of Appeals

Series Number

J0016

Summary

This series consists of criminal cases, most of which were appealed to the Appellate Division (First Department), and several of which went to the Court of Appeals. The earlier volumes contain many records on appeal from the Supreme Court General term. In addition, there are original court papers such as notices of argument on appeal, signed and sealed appellate court orders affirming or reversing the decision of the lower court, and a few bills of exceptions and decisions.

Creator

• New York County (N.Y.). Court of General Sessions of the Peace

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Orders for appointment of guardian or next friend

Series Number

J5026

Summary

This series consists of petitions to a Supreme Court justice, commissioner, or judge of a court of common pleas for appointment of a guardian for an infant-defendant, or a next friend (prochein ami) for an infant-plaintiff (a minor could not appear in court).

Creator

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

Access Restrictions

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

Title

New Netherland Provincial Secretary register of the Provincial Secretary

Series Number

A0270

Summary

This series contains a vast array of legal documents in the Dutch language filed with the provincial secretary of New Netherland in conjunction with civil and criminal proceedings. Among other duties, the provincial secretary was responsible for recording and authenticating official documents for potential presentation in court. Included are records relating to the administration of real property, commerce, personal and family matters, and other civil and criminal affairs.

Creator

• New Netherland. Provincial Secretary

Access Restrictions

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

Title

New York State Joint Legislative Committee on Crime, Its Causes, Control and Effect on Society tape and transcript of "Voices of Organized Crime" report

Series Number

L0247

Summary

The committee investigated organized crime, the illegal use of narcotics, the publication of obscene material, juvenile delinquency, and the control of firearms. This recording of "The Voices of Organized Crime: An Education Tape," features secretly recorded conversations of members of organized crime compiled in April 1968. The conversations pertain to assault, extortion, murder, and numerous other crimes.

Creator

• New York (State). Legislature. Joint Legislative Committee on Crime, Its Causes, Control and Effect on Society

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Scrapbooks

Series Number

A2078

Summary

Scrapbooks consist mostly of news clippings concerning conditions at the House of Refuge (Vol. 1 and 2) and crime and prison conditions in New York (Vol. 5) and throughout the United States (Vols. 3 and 4).. Included are programs for shows/events and clippings related to the Freedom of Worship Act and investigations into conditions and management at the institution; and clippings about violent crimes, prisons, prison conditions, parole systems and the United States legal system.

Creator

• New York House of Refuge

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Department of Correctional Services press release and publication files

Series Number

B2795

Summary

This series consists of news summaries and newsletters created or published by the New York State Department of Correctional Services (DOCS). News summaries, distributed to DOCS staff, were used to track the publication of articles covering topics relevant to the work of DOCS. Newsletters include <emph render="italic">The Correction Employee</emph>, <emph render="italic">Focus</emph>, and <emph render="italic">Correctional Services News</emph>. Topics of note covered in this series include inmate work programs, gun control, capital punishment, and living conditions in prisons.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Correctional Services

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Writs of error

Series Number

J0031

Summary

Files in this series usually include the writ of error ordering the lower court to return records of the case to the Supreme Court; the lower court's return or answer; and the defendant's bill of exceptions stating the objections to the lower court proceedings. Defendants obtained writs of error to have a cause, previously judged in an inferior court, removed to the Supreme Court for review.

Creator

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

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Demeanor report book

Series Number

B2011

Summary

This volume contains entries from February 1, 1923, to January 31, 1924. Reports are listed monthly on fines imposed on incarcerated individuals of an unidentified residential facility, probably Elmira Reformatory. Information is present for the following: consecutive number, name, class (1 or 2, probably refers to degree of infraction) and fines, and surname of officer reporting the offence. The volume only occasionally specifies nature of offences. Nature of fines or punishments is never specified.

Creator

• New York State Reformatory (Elmira, N.Y.)

Access Restrictions

Portions of this series are restricted to protect personal privacy. Access may be permitted under certain conditions upon application to and approval by the State Archives.

Title

Supreme Court Appellate Division First Department trial transcripts from New York County criminal courts

Series Number

B0815

Summary

This series consists of New York County criminal court trial transcripts which were created for use in appeals. Most of the trials occurred in the Court of General Sessions of the Peace. Others took place in the Court of Oyer and Terminer; in the trial term of the Supreme Court; or in lower tribunals such as the Police Court and the Magistrates' Court.

Creator

• New York (State). Supreme Court. Appellate Division. First Department

Access Restrictions

The New York State Archives holds only master negative microfilm of this series. No public use copies of the microfilm are available. Researchers are referred to the Sealy Library, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, which holds use copies.

Title

Temporary Commission on Revision of the Penal Law and Criminal Code administrative and working files

Series Number

13828

Summary

This series consists of correspondence; studies; reports; newspaper clippings; drafts of bills; minutes and memorandums generated and received by the Temporary State Commission to Revise the Penal Law and Criminal Code. Subjects include abortion; adultery; arson; assault; birth control; bribery; burglary; capital punishment; disorderly conduct; entrapment; extortion; extradition; firearms control; gambling; homicide; insanity; kidnapping; larceny; malicious mischief; obscenity; narcotics; parole; post-conviction remedies; public intoxication; prostitution; probation; prisons; restitution; search and seizure; sentencing; and youthful offenders.

Creator

• New York (State). Temporary Commission on Revision of the Penal Law and Criminal Code

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Dutch colonial council minutes

Series Number

A1809

Summary

This series consists of minutes, in Dutch, documenting civil and criminal cases, and executive and legislative matters over which the Council of the Colony of New York had jurisdiction. The minutes constitute a record of such actions as appointments, proclamations, ordinances, charters, and opinions. Included in the records is the Flushing Remonstrance, which was written in 1657 by citizens of Flushing, Queens to protest a decree prohibiting Quakers from worshiping in New Netherland.

Creator

• New Netherland. Council

Access Restrictions

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