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

Gouverneur Correctional Facility inmate case files

Series Number

W0022

Summary

Gouverneur Correctional Facility, located in St. Lawrence County, N.Y., is a medium security correctional facility for male felons. Inmate case files describe in great detail the family and social background, arrest, confinement, and release/parole of incarcerated men.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Correctional Services
• Gouverneur 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

Eastern Correctional Facility inmate case files

Series Number

W0017

Summary

Eastern Correctional Facility, located in Ulster County, N.Y., is a maximum security correctional facility for male felons. Inmate case files describe in great detail the family and social background, arrest, confinement, and release/parole of incarcerated men.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Correctional Services

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

Willard Drug Treatment Campus inmate case files

Series Number

W0058

Summary

Willard Drug Treatment Campus, located in Seneca County, N.Y., is a drug treatment center for male and female felons. Inmate case files describe in great detail the family and social background, arrest, confinement, and release/parole of confined men and women.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Correctional Services

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

Wende Correctional Facility inmate case files

Series Number

W0057

Summary

Wende Correctional Facility, located in Erie County, N.Y., is a maximum security correctional facility for male felons. Inmate case files describe in great detail the family and social background, arrest, confinement, and release/parole of incarcerated men.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Correctional Services
• Wende 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

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

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

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

National Governors' Conference and related federal issues policy development files

Series Number

B1219

Summary

The materials in this series were compiled to prepare Governors Nelson A. Rockefeller and Malcolm Wilson and their respective staffs for the National Governors' Conference meetings in 1973 and 1974; and Governor W. Averell Harriman and his staff for meetings held between 1956 and 1958.

Creator

• New York (State). Governor. Deputy Secretary to the Governor

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Woodbourne Correctional Facility inmate case files

Series Number

W0059

Summary

Woodbourne Correctional Facility, located in Sullivan County, N.Y., is a medium security correctional facility for male felons. Inmate case files describe in great detail the family and social background, arrest, confinement, and release/parole of incarcerated men.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Correctional Services
• Woodbourne 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

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

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

Greene Correctional Facility inmate case files

Series Number

W0026

Summary

Greene Correctional Facility, located in Greene County, N.Y., is a medium security correctional facility for male felons. Inmate case files describe in great detail the family and social background, arrest, confinement, and release/parole of incarcerated men.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Correctional Services
• Greene 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

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

Southport Correctional Facility inmate case files

Series Number

W0049

Summary

Southport Correctional Facility, located in Chemung County, N.Y., is a maximum security correctional facility for male felons. Inmate case files describe in great detail the family and social background, arrest, confinement, and release/parole of incarcerated men.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Correctional Services
• Southport 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

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

Wyoming Correctional Facility inmate case files

Series Number

W0060

Summary

Wyoming Correctional Facility, located in Wyoming County, N.Y., is a medium security correctional facility for male felons. Inmate case files describe in great detail the family and social background, arrest, confinement, and release/parole of incarcerated men. This series contains a 2% sample of case files for inmates incarcerated in Wyoming Correctional Facility. Files documenting certain demographic groups and types of offenders are also included.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Correctional Services

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

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.