Research

Scope and Content Note

The series consists of records of the commission which were compiled by its chief counsel and executive director, Roderick C. Lankler. The commission, commonly known as the "Liman Commission" after its chairman, Arthur L. Liman, was an advisory and fact-finding body appointed by Governor Carey to investigate prison overcrowding, jury selection reform, sentencing and parole laws and practices, and other aspects of the criminal justice system. The commission was discontinued shortly after Governor Cuomo took office.

The records include: draft reports and preparatory notes; hearing testimony and public meeting transcripts; general meeting memoranda and summaries; general correspondence, including letters to or from Lankler or referred to him by Arthur L. Liman; press releases and news clippings, including summaries and excerpts from commission reports and editorial commentary; vouchers and information on budgeting, commission expenditures, and space allocation; a few publicity photographs of commission members; commission mailing lists; and selected lecture notes and reference materials kept by Lankler on various prosecutorial methods and/or issues.