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• Overview
• Arrangement
• Scope and Contents
• Access Restrictions
• Access Terms

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Western Reformatory for Women Psychiatric and Psychological Statistical Reports

Some content may contain outdated and offensive terminology. See: New York State Archives Statement on Language in Descriptive Resources

Overview of the Records

Arrangement

Chronological within record type.

Scope and Content Note

These records consist largely of monthly statistical reports submitted by Department of Mental Hygiene personnel, one copy of which went to the Department of Correction.

The Mental Hygiene Law allows the commissioner of Mental Hygiene to require statistical information about patients. The psychiatric reports give the number of inmates interviewed; receiving individual therapy; group therapy sessions; in group therapy; placed under psychiatric observation; examined for classification purposes; examined on request of the Division of Parole; examined preparatory to discharge; transferred for psychiatric reasons (to state hospital for criminally insane, to state institutions for defective delinquents, to other correctional facilities, and total); and other activities or special incidents. In 1967, the forms for the monthly psychiatric statistical reports changed from a line-by-line enumeration to a grid pattern, but the information included remained the same. Among the files are one psychiatrist's monthly records (1959-1963) of his patients' attendance, giving the name, dates seen, and times seen.

The psychological statistics include the number of psychologists and psychology man-hours; subjects entering institution; subjects tested or interviewed; hours; tests given; reports written; individuals or groups in counseling; department activity (eg. conferences, research); referral sources (eg. psychiatrist, warden, inmate herself); transfers; parole violators; and other information the psychologist wants to add.

The series also includes therapy and counseling statistics files, giving the name of the counselor; month; name of patient; and dates of sessions. Other files contain psychiatric and psychological annual reports and cover letters for them. The reports are usually yearly totals printed on the same forms used for monthly statistics reports, along with summaries of activities and explanatory notes.

There are several related correspondence files including letters and memoranda regarding psychiatrists decreasing or ending their services at Albion; correspondence of the Commissioner of Mental Hygiene with the superintendent of Albion; and correspondence about meetings, staffing, and salaries. There are also a few miscellaneous records, such as minutes of staff meetings and lists of inmates in therapy (by doctor, then alphabetically).

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.

Access Terms