Research


Scope and Content Note

This subseries of the general inmate case files series, Series 14610, consists of inmate case files relating to men who were incarcerated in Attica Correctional Facility. Inmate case files describe in great detail the family and social background, arrest, confinement, and release/parole of inmates. The content of the case files reflects the role of each institution.

Beginning with inmates released after 1956, only the following case files categories were transferred to the State Archives: inmates who died in custody, sex offenders, inmates of certain minority ethnic groups, inmates who received life sentences, and a 2% sample of all inmates who were released from any correctional facility. All other case files were destroyed.

W0005-88F: This accretion consists of approximately 800 case files relating to inmates confined at Attica Prison from 1947 to 1956. Some records in the case files date from about 1940 for inmates previously confined in other institutions. The case files relate to inmates with Attica inmate consecutive numbers between 9382 and 14314. During the period represented by these records, Attica served as a maximum security prison for male felons principally from courts in central and western counties in the State. Attica also received inmates by transfer from the Reception Center and from other institutions, particularly parole violators. Beginning in 1949, the records in each case file are divided into three separate folders: a general records folder; a medical records folder; and a Service Unit folder containing records relating to inmate institutional progress and parole. These folders, kept separately during the inmate's confinement, were consolidated into the case files when the inmate was released.

W0005-94B: This accretion consists of a 2% sample of case files for inmates released from 1954 through 1978 from Attica Correctional Facility.

W0005-01: This accretion consists of 157 case files relating to inmates released from Attica Prison (later Attica Correctional Facility) between 1950 and 1981 (bulk pertain to those released between 1976 and 1981). Some case files record information from approximately 1955. Included in the accretion are a two percent sample of all case files, all case files for inmates of certain minority ethnic groups, all inmates who died in custody, all inmates serving life sentences, and all inmates who escaped while in custody. No notorious inmates are identified. No female inmates are represented. Many inmates were previously confined in other facilities.

W0005-05: This accretion contains a 2% sample of case files for inmates incarcerated in Attica Correctional facility. In addition to the sampled case files, files for prisoners receiving life sentences, sex offenders, inmates who died in custody, and inmates of Asian and Native American ethnicity are included when available.

W0005-08: This accretion contains a 2% sample of case files of inmates incarcerated in Attica Correctional Facility, the majority of whom were released from 1988-1992. In addition to the sampled case files, prisoners receiving life sentences, sex offenders, inmates who died in custody, and inmates of Asian and Native American ethnicity are included.

W0005-21: This accretion documents inmates whose sentences reached maximum expiration dates in 2003-2004. Records only document inmates categorized under specific felony and central monitoring classes: Class A-1, CMC A status; Arson (1st, 2nd); Kidnapping (1st, 2nd); Conspiracy (1st); Coercion (CMC A, class D only).