Research

• Full Finding Aid
• Overview
• Arrangement
• Scope and Contents
• Other Finding Aids
• Access Restrictions
• Acquisition Information
• Processing Information
• Custodial History
• Access Terms
• Detailed Description

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New York State Department of Correctional Services Green Haven Correctional Facility Inmate Case Files

Some content may contain outdated and offensive terminology.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

Overview of the Records

Arrangement

Roughly numerical by DIN number.

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 Green Haven 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.

W0025-89: This accretion contains approximately 450 inmate case files relating to inmates confined at Green Haven Prison from its opening in 1949 to 1956. There are also several case files relating to inmates released from Green Haven after 1956. Green Haven functioned as a maximum security transfer prison for male felons and case files include records from institutions where an inmate was previously confined. The case files relate to inmates with consecutive numbers between #7 and #5961.

W0025-94A: This accretion contains a 2% sample of case files of inmates released from Green Haven Prison/Correctional Facility after 1956.

W0025-98E: This accretion consists of case files of inmates who were in custody at Green Haven Correctional Facility from 1976-1980. Included in the accretion are a two percent sample of all case files as well as case files of inmates who died in custody, inmates of certain minority ethnic groups, and inmates who were serving life sentences. No case files of female inmates are included.

W0025-05: This accretion contains a 2% sample of case files for inmates incarcerated in Green Haven Correctional Facility. In addition to the sampled case files, files for inmates of Asian or Native American ethnicity and inmates incarcerated in Attica Correctional Facility at the time of the 1971 uprising are included.

W0025-08: This accretion contains a 2% sample of case files of inmates incarcerated in Green Haven 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 when available.

W0025-21: 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).

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

W0025-05, W0025-13, W0025-19: Folder list is available at the repository.

Acquisition Information

W0025-13, W0025-19: This accretion was transferred under RDA 14610 by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

W0025-21: This accretion was transferred under RDA 16112.

Processing Information

W0025 is formally part of Series 14610, Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Inmate Case Files. To improve access, Series 14610 was divided into "W" subseries corresponding to individual correctional facilities.

Custodial History

Several archival inmate case files were approved for destruction in 2020 under RDA 23054 due to mold damage incurred at the facility: Alexander, Willie (77A2545), A-1 Felony with CMC Status A, released in 12/09/83, but returned to custody;

Alexander, Willie (90B3134), A-1 Felony with CMC Status A, released 12/01/14;

Hannon, Edwin (82A2133), A-1 Felony with CMC Status A, released 04/06/16.

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

Detailed Description