Research: Topics: Genealogy: Department of Corrections: Description: Institutional Records

C. INSTITUTIONAL RECORDS

COXSACKIE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

Coxsackie Correctional Facility is located in West Coxsackie, Greene County. It is classified as a maximum security general confinement facility and detention center for males between the ages of 16 and 21. Coxsackie presently confines approximately 1,000 inmates.

The New York State Vocational Institution, established by the Laws of 1932, Chapter 538, opened in March 1935. The first inmates received at this institution, generally known as "Coxsackie," were older inmates from the New York House of Refuge which was being closed after serving as a juvenile reformatory since 1825. Coxsackie continued this reformatory function, providing inmates with a program of academic and vocational education. Industrial training is presently provided in mechanics, machine shop, printing, and other trades, as well as training in agriculture. For the first ten years of its operation, Coxsackie received inmates by direct commitment from the courts. Since 1945, with the opening of the Elmira Reception Center, Coxsackie has received nearly all its inmates from this Center.

14610-88C. Inmate case files, 1930-1965 (bulk 1935-1960). R 392 cu. ft.

Approximately 7,500 case files relate to inmates confined at the New York State Vocational Institution from 1935 to 1960. The case files relate to inmates with consecutive numbers between #1 and #10362. The earliest of these case files include records from the New York House of Refuge which transferred its inmates to Coxsackie when it closed in 1935. Reflecting the institution's function as a reformatory, the case files include a large number of records relating to inmate academic and vocational training. The records include extensive psychiatric and education reports and reports from the institution's adjustment/assignment committee.