Parole Agents' daily reports A2070

Parole Agents' daily reports

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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:

The Visiting Agent visited the homes of new inmates and paroled inmates' employer to ensure appropriate placement. Information in the daily reports includes name and number of parolee visited; city and/or home address of parolee; relatives' comments on parolee's progress; name and location of employer and employer's comments concerning parolee and descriptions of parolee crimes or misbehavior. Some entries provide information on parole agent activities such as taking inmates to court; helping find employment; and arrests while on parole visits.

Creator:

New York House of Refuge

Title:

Parole Agents' daily reports

Quantity:

4 cubic feet

22 volumes

Inclusive Dates:

1894-1915

Series Number:

A2070

Arrangement

Each volume chronological by date of visit or other event.

Administrative History

The institution's first Visiting Agent was appointed in 1894, when the indenturing system was being replaced by the parole system of discharging inmates. The Visiting Agent visited the homes of new inmates and the home and prospective employer of each inmate to be paroled to ensure appropriate placement of the inmate; he made similar visits while the inmate was on parole to check on his progress. In 1901 Visiting Agents became Parole Agents.

Scope and Content Note

Volumes tracking the progress of paroled inmates contain daily entries summarizing contacts with parolees and their families and employers.

The extent and type of information in the entries varies, but each may provide such information as: name and number of parolee visited; city and/or home address of parolee; who spoke to at home (e.g. parent or other relative); relatives' comments on parolee's progress; name and location of employer; and employer's comments concerning parolee.

Although most entries are brief (two or three sentences), some provide lengthy, detailed descriptions of the misbehavior or crimes committed by parolees. Occasional entries provide information on related activities of parole agents such as: taking inmates to court; helping inmates find employment; returning parole violators to the institution; and receiving visits or telephone calls from parolees or their relatives to discuss their employment, progress, living arrangements, arrests while on parole, etc. Some volumes were kept by only one parole agent; others contain entries made in several hands. Therefore, there is considerable overlapping of dates between volumes.