Research

Elmira Correctional Facility is a maximum security institution receiving first offender male felons 21 to 30 years old by direct commitment from the courts. It also receives youths from the Reception Center, usually ages 18 to 20, who have a more serious background, but who show good potential for rehabilitation. Construction of this institution was approved by the legislature in 1871 (Chapter 715), and it opened in 1876 as the New York State Reformatory at Elmira. Elmira's authority and functions were established by the legislature in the Laws of 1877, Chapter 173.

The Court for the Trial of Impeachments and Correction of Errors was established under the state constitution and served as New York's impeachment court and court of last resort between 1777 and 1847. Its colonial predecessors were the Court of Assizes, 1664-1684; the Court of Chancery, 1683-1691; and the Court of Errors and Appeals, 1691-1783. The last colonial court continued in British-occupied New York until the end of the Revolution. Each colonial court consisted of the Royal Governor and his Council.

The Senate Finance Committee is one of the most powerful committees in the Legislature because of its role in formulating and revising all appropriation bills considered by the Legislature. All Senate bills involving expenditure or suspected expenditure of state funds are referred to the Finance Committee for consideration. The Ways and Means Committee serves the same fiscal functions in the Assembly. The duties of both the Senate Finance Committee and the Assembly Ways and Means Committee are proscribed in the Legislative Law, Article 2, Sections 27-33.

Before the Supreme Court of Judicature was established, other courts were operating in New York. Following the British conquest of New Netherland, the court of assizes was established in 1664 under the authority of the Duke of York, proprietor of the colony. Equity jurisdiction was conferred upon the court by a 1655 amendment to the Duke's Laws establishing the government of the colony. The court consisted of the governor, his Council, and two justices from each of the three judicial districts (or "ridings") located in the southern part of the colony.

The New York State Public Service Corporations Law (Laws of 1907, Chapter 424) established the Public Service Commissions to provide for the efficient regulation of common carriers, railroads, street railways, gas and electric corporations, and the construction of subways in New York City. Subsequent amendments to the law added the regulations of certain telephone, telegraph, and steam heating corporations to the Commission's authority.

The Division, created in 1906, absorbed the advisory and investigative functions of the Bureau of Epidemics and Infectious Diseases and the case-recording functions previously handled by the Bureau of Instruction and Publication. For most communicable disease, the Division handled case-reporting, analysis of case statistics, epidemiological investigations, and research on the use of new methods of disease control.

The Court of Probates originated in the late seventeenth century as the British authorities established a centralized probate system in the colony. It declined in importence during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries as a decentralized probate system based on local courts evolved. During the period of Dutch administrations (ca. 1617-1664), wills were generally written out and read before the testator and two witnesses by a notary, ship captain, or magistrate. The will was signed by the testator, the witnesses, and the official, who recorded it in his record book.

In 1867, the legislature established the Board of State Commissioners of Public Charities to inspect and report to the legislature all publicly funded charitable and custodial institutions. Legislation in 1873 replaced this board with a new State Board of Charities, mandated licensing of public and private institutions for the mentally ill, and created the office of state commissioner in lunacy. This commissioner's office was abolished in 1889 and replaced by an independent State Commission in Lunacy consisting of three gubernatorial appointees.

The Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children was incorporated as a private institution receiving some state aid in 1855 (Chapter 233). The asylum was located within the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation in Erie County and was charged to receive destitute and orphaned children from all Indian reservations in the state. It was named for Philip E. Thomas, a benefactor of New York's Indians and early financial backer of the asylum.

The colonial courts of vice admiralty were branches of the High Court of Admiralty in London. The New York court covered New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The governor was commissioned as vice admiral but he appointed the presiding judge and other officers of the court. Jurisdiction of the court included all litigation relating to maritime commerce, though certain types of cases could be tried either in this court or in the regular common law courts.