Finding Aid Search

Title

Minutes of monthly meetings

Series Number

B1278

Summary

This series consists of monthly meeting minutes held by the Boards of Visitors of the Albion State Training School and its predecessor institutions: Western Correctional Facility and Western Reformatory for Women. Subjects include physical plant improvements, developments in health and educational programs, emergencies, and special events. Also included is a list of inmates received and discharged; a census of inmates and infants and a count of inmates receiving dental and medical attention. Records are restricted to protect personal privacy.

Creator

• Albion State Training School (Albion, N.Y.). Board of Visitors

Access Restrictions

Restricted: pursuant to Personal Privacy Protection Law. Access may be permitted under certain conditions upon application to and approval by the State Archives.

Title

Auburn Prison invoices, receipts, and vouchers relating to prison purchases

Series Number

B1274

Summary

This series consists of invoices, receipts, and vouchers documenting Auburn Prison purchases of food, equipment, and supplies. For each purchase, the records contain an invoice submitted by the contractor listing the items delivered, date delivered, and price; a receipt from the prison with date items were received; and a prison voucher completed by the contractor and approved for payment.

Creator

• Auburn Prison

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Auburn Prison contractor bid files relating to the purchase of food, equipment, and supplies

Series Number

B1226

Summary

This series consists of records used to select contractors for food, equipment, and supplies for Auburn Prison, the prison farm, and the prison's road camps. Most records are specifications and proposal compiled by contractors bidding on supplies. They detail items to be purchased, quantity required, contract period and directions regarding price, payment, and delivery. Also included are lists that include conditions of individual contracts and names and addresses of winning bidders.

Creator

• Auburn Prison

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Bedford Hills Correctional Facility Office of the Superintendent subject files

Series Number

B1018

Summary

This series consists of subject files from the Superintendent of Bedford Hills Correctional Facility (previously Westfield State Farm). Records consist of correspondence, memoranda, notes, reports, lists, and other material relating to the administration of the facility. Subjects include correction officer's orders; procedures and work assignments; inmate education; training; recreation programs; inmate accidents; classification and parole reviews; clinic schedules; inmate misbehavior and discipline; inmate hospitalization; and visitors. Records are restricted to protect personal privacy.

Creator

• Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. Office of the Superintendent

Access Restrictions

Series is partially restricted. State Archives staff will review requests for specific documents and disclose in accordance with New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL).

Title

Sing Sing Prison Principal Keeper's daily journal

Series Number

B1238

Summary

This series contains the only existing volumes of the daily journal that were maintained by Sing Sing Prison's Principal Keeper. The journal provides a daily summary of information on the population of incarcerated individuals and the prison staff. Volume One covers September 11, 1917, to July 7, 1918, while Volume Two covers May 3 to June 10, 1938.

Creator

• Sing Sing Prison

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Auburn Prison correspondence and report file relating to inmate escapes and captures

Series Number

B1225

Summary

This series consists of records relating to the escape and capture of incarcerated individuals who had escaped from Auburn Prison and its various prison camps. Folders include correspondence, telegrams, and general releases notifying police departments, county sheriffs, and railroad police of the escape and asking for assistance in capture; memorandums describing circumstances of the escape; and reports explaining the escape and capture of the incarcerated individuals.

Creator

• Auburn Prison

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Journal of fines and compensation

Series Number

B1231

Summary

This series consists of a journal of fines imposed on individuals incarcerated at Auburn Prison and the State Prison for Women. Information includes names; number of days fined and amount of fine. The journal also lists individuals with amounts of "fines restored" and monthly listings of amounts received from fines and from the "P.C. Fund."

Creator

• Auburn Prison

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Weekly reports of punishments imposed

Series Number

B1224

Summary

This series consists of reports listing weekly disciplinary action imposed on incarcerated individuals at Auburn. Reports include date of offense; person's name and number; punishment and description of offense. Other reports that may be attached include: prison officer reports of offenses; disciplinary hearing report to determine punishment and daily report listing information on those kept in confinement.

Creator

• Auburn Correctional Facility

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

Daily reports of infractions and punishments

Series Number

B1271

Summary

This series consists of a daily log listing infractions of prison rules committed by individuals incarcerated at Auburn and corrections officers and penalties imposed. A few entries relate to complaints by incarcerated individuals. Information recorded daily includes name and consecutive number; number of previous offenses or complaints; name of officer making report; offense or complaint (e.g., fighting, smoking, refusing work, improper sick leave); action or penalty imposed (e.g., counseled, confined, reprimanded); and number of days lost.

Creator

• Auburn Correctional Facility

Access Restrictions

Restricted to protect personal privacy. Access may be permitted under certain conditions upon application to and approval by the State Archives.

Title

Daily punishment reports

Series Number

A0780

Summary

The series consists of daily reports describing punishments at Auburn Prison. Assistant keepers could punish those incarcerated at their discretion if they reported their actions in writing to the prison's agent or deputy keeper. The short narratives include date; name of assistant keeper; name of the punished; offense committed; location of offense; and punishment given. Occasionally, the reports also include a one-sentence description of significant events occurring at the prison such as fires, resignations of officials, and missing incarcerated persons.

Creator

• Auburn Prison

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Register of foreign born inmates

Series Number

B1827

Summary

Foreign-born prisoners accounted for nearly fifty-five percent of the prison population increase in the early twentieth century. Individual facilities gathered detailed information about their foreign-born inmates to document the increase and burden on the state. This series consists of information concerning foreign-born inmates in Auburn Prison including name; age; color; nativity; arrival date in United States; vessel name; port; citizenship status; naturalization; literacy; former trade or occupation; crime; sentence; marital status; children; residence of wife and children; and previous convictions.

Creator

• Auburn Prison

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner's subject and correspondence files

Series Number

19147

Summary

The Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is responsible for developing policies, plans, and programs for improving the coordination, administration, and effectiveness of the state's criminal justice system. The series consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence, research reports, case records, unusual incident reports from the Department of Corrections, and some policy and position papers.

Creator

• New York (State). Division of Criminal Justice Services. Commissioner's Office

Access Restrictions

19147-96: Documents containing information that is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Law (Public Officers Law Art. 6) have been segregated in boxes 6-13.

19147-07: Parole records are restricted permanently according to Executive Law sect. 259-a(2), 259k(2) and 9NYCRR part 8000.5(d).

Documents that mention subjects of confidential criminal investigations; relate to sensitive law enforcement matters and policy debates; describe non-routine criminal investigation techniques and procedures; or contain attorney-client communications are restricted.

Title

Daily census report

Series Number

B1239

Summary

This series consists of daily census reports of incarcerated individuals taken at Sing Sing Prison from August 18, 1927, to May 18, 1928. The census was likely maintained by Sing Sing's deputy warden. For each day, the following information was recorded: number of incarcerated individuals received and discharged; number of incarcerated individuals at each location within the prison when the census was taken (e.g. kitchen, hospital, etc.); and a total count of the entire prison population.

Creator

• Sing Sing Prison

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Auburn Prison inmate record cards

Series Number

B1222

Summary

This series consists of records of individuals released from Auburn Prison. Each card contains summary information on the incarcerated individual's background; criminal activity; behavior and progress during confinement, and release from Auburn. Information includes name and consecutive number; crime; date and place of birth; physical characteristics (color, height, weight); marital status; number of children; immediate relatives; religion; educational level; occupation; health; drug and alcohol use; citizenship; photograph; and prison activities.

Creator

• Auburn Prison

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

Westfield State Farm Reformatory Division inmate record cards

Series Number

B1022

Summary

This series consists of record cards relating to women received at the Westfield State Farm and its predecessor, the New York State Reformatory for Women. Information includes inmate background (color, education, occupation, previous arrests, family, and marital status); crime; psychological testing results; psychological or psychiatric classification information; family medical history; physical data; tests for sexually transmitted diseases; names of cottage assignments at the reformatory; and date of release or transfer.

Creator

• Westfield State Farm. Reformatory Division

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

Punishment register

Series Number

B1223

Summary

This series consists of a register of offenses and punishments given to individuals incarcerated at Auburn Prison. For each individual, the register includes name; date received; crime; term of sentence; sentencing judge; and date discharged or transferred from Auburn. For each instance of punishment, the register includes date; name of keeper; description and location of offense; name of person giving punishment; and description of punishment.

Creator

• Auburn Prison

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Physician's daily log of inmates received, treated and discharged

Series Number

B1249

Summary

This series consists of the Clinton Prison physician's log of daily, monthly, and yearly totals of information on the Clinton inmate population. Information includes inmate count; number discharged, died, transferred or received, applied for medical treatment, treated, not treated, excused, and days excused; and names of inmates who attempted escape, escaped or recaptured; died; transferred or were received from other prisons. Also included is a log of meals served and average cost per meal.

Creator

• Clinton Prison (Dannemora, N.Y.)

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Inmate record cards

Series Number

B1273

Summary

This series consists of records for inmates released from the State Prison for Women. Information includes name; inmate number; crime; date and place of birth; color; height; weight; marital status; number of children; name and address of immediate relatives; religion; educational level; occupation; health; alcohol or drug use; citizenship; prison term; date received or transferred; previous convictions; discipline, shop assignments, inmate photograph, date and type of release.

Creator

• New York State Prison for Women

Access Restrictions

Restricted to protect personal privacy.Access may be permitted under certain conditions upon application to and approval by the State Archives.

Title

Department of Correctional Services Watch Commander's master logs

Series Number

20037

Summary

In the 1970s, the Department of Correctional Services began to adopt policies and procedures geared toward meeting accreditation standards of the American Correctional Association. In conjunction with this process, State correctional facilities began maintaining centralized security logs, known as Watch Commander's logs. Watch Commander's logs provide basic documentation of administrative procedure, as well as documentation of controversial events. Therefore, excerpts are used frequently in investigations, prosecutions, and litigation pertaining to inmate conduct and/or actions by employees of correctional institutions.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Correctional Services

Title

Sing Sing Prison Superintendent's diaries

Series Number

B1245

Summary

This series consists of daily diaries kept by warden W. L. Denno of Sing Sing Prison documenting his official activities. Entries include inspections of site personnel and security protocol; details of visitors to the prison, including police investigators; attempted escapes; misconduct of incarcerated individuals; and the warden's attendance at executions. Any official travel necessitating the absence of the warden from the prison is also reported.

Creator

• Sing Sing Prison

Access Restrictions

State Archives staff will review requests for specific documents and disclose information pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law and Personal Privacy Protection Law. Unless a specific law forbids disclosure indefinitely, all records must be disclosed after 75 years.