New York (State). Department of Correctional Services

Bushwick Correctional Facility, located in Brooklyn, New York, was also known as Bushwick Rehabilitation Center and Bushwick Community Based Center. It was administered by the Narcotics Addiction Control Commission under the Office of Mental Hygiene, and served as a work release and general confinement facility from the late 1960s through the middle 1970s.

From the description of Bushwick Correctional Facility inmate case files, 1956-1976. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 122520001

In October 1981, Camp Adirondack Correctional Facility became Adirondack Correctional Facility.

From the description of Adirondack Correctional Facility inmate case files, 1976-1981. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 122535953

In 1975, the Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) received a federal grant to replace its pre-1976 inmate history system with the Offender Based State Corrections Information System (OBSCIS). OBSCIS was designed to track inmate movement throughout the correctional system. It was also used to support operational studies and studies of population trends and characteristics. DOCS generated annual OBSCIS Admission and Release data files for research use.

From the description of Inmate admission and release files, 1976-1984. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 81587262

The Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) developed the inmate history system to support operational studies, long-term program analyses and studies of inmate population trends and characteristics. The system is comprised of three sub-files: the Admission, Release, and Under Custody files.

From the description of Inmate release files, 1956-1975. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 122611724

Lincoln Correctional Facility is a minimum security, work release facility for males. It is located in New York City, and opened in 1976.

Queensboro Correctional Facility is a minimum security, work release facility for males. It is located in Queens County, and opened in 1976.

From the description of Inmate case files from multiple institutions, 1976-1981. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 122618308

CURRENT FUNCTIONS. The Department of Correctional Services is responsible for the confinement and rehabilitation of approximately 52,000 inmates held at sixty-two correctional facilities throughout the State.

The department performs a number of activities in carrying out this function. It confines offenders at appropriate security levels and maintains order through disciplinary action when necessary. It fulfills the basic daily needs of inmates and provides necessary medical and dental care. The department offers habilitation opportunities through academic, vocational, maintenance, and industrial programs. In addition, the department administers programs for inmates who require protective custody or specialized treatment for mental or physical handicaps or who have drug, alcohol, or emotional problems. Finally, the department helps inmates adjust to their eventual return to the community by allowing the release of qualified inmates on a temporary basis.

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY. From the opening of the first Stat prison in 1797 until the present day, New York State's correctional system has had a wide influence on the direction of criminology and penology in the United States. Among the important early institutions established in New York State were: Newgate Prison (1797), Auburn Prison (1818), New York House of Refuge (1824), Sing Sing Prison (1828), Dannemora Prison (1845), Western House of Refuge (1849), Elmira Reformatory (1876), and Bedford Hills Reformatory for Women (1901). Newgate, Auburn, Sing Sing, and Dannemora were instrumental in the development of the nineteenth-century penitentiary movement throughout the country. In particular, the Auburn system of discipline--congregate work by day, solitary separation in cells at night, enforced silence, lockstep formations, and severe corporal punishment--served as a model for similar institutions elsewhere.

Elmira Reformatory was the first adult reformatory in the country and precipitated a national reformatory movement. Elmira's innovative, highly publicized program included indefinite sentences based on conduct and performance, individualized treatment of inmates, and the extensive use of parole. In the development of reformatories for women, Bedford Hills was extremely important and its programs were emulated at many other institutions. Most influential were Bedford's programs for the scientific study of "feeblemindedness" and "defective-delinquents" as causes of crime.

Until 1846, the State's corrections system was administered by a board of inspectors that in turn appointed wardens for each prison. The State constitution of 1846 established a single Board of Prisons to oversee all State prisons, and in 1876 this board was replaced by the Office of Superintendent of State Prisons.

The reorganization of State government in 1925 and 1926 abolished the Office of Superintendent of State Prisons and set up a Department of Correction headed by a commissioner appointed by the governor (Laws of 1926, Chapter 606). In addition to continuing the work of the superintendent of state prisons, the Department of Correction also assumed the functions of the State Board of Charities relating to correctional institutions. Since 1867, the State Board of Charities and its predecessor, the Board of State Commissioners of Public Charities, had been responsible for supervising correctional institutions (except prisons) and reformatories in the State.

The new department was comprised of four divisions: a Division of Administration, responsible for custody of inmates and maintenance of institutions; a Division of Prison Industries, supervising prison and reformatory production shops and farm work; a Division of Parole; and a Division of Probation. In 1930 (Chapter 824), the Division of Parole was transferred from the Department of Correction to the Executive Department.

In 1970 (Chapter 475), the present Department of Correctional Services was created. It consolidated the previous Department of Correction, the State Commission of Correction (established in 1926), and the Division of Parole. A 1970 companion law (Chapter 479) removed the Division of Probation from the new department and transferred it to the Executive Department. In 1972 (Chapter 399), the department's Division of Criminal Investigation was transferred to the newly formed Division of Criminal Justice Services in the Executive Department. In 1973 (Chapter 398), the Commission of Correction was also separated from the department and made an independent agency within the Executive Department. In 1977, administration of hospitals for mentally ill inmates was transferred to the Department of Mental Hygiene (Chapter 978) and the Division of Parole was again removed from the department and made an independent Executive Department agency (Chapter 904).

From the description of Department of Correctional Services Agency History Record. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 82063990

From the opening of the first State prison in 1797 until the present day, New York State's correctional system has had a wide influence on the direction of criminology and penology in the United States. Among the important early institutions established in New York State were: Newgate Prison (1797), Auburn Prison (1818), New York House of Refuge (1824), Sing Sing Prison (1828), Dannemora Prison (1845), Western House of Refuge (1849), Elmira Reformatory (1876), and Bedford Hills Reformatory for Women (1901). Newgate, Auburn, Sing Sing, and Dannemora were instrumental in the development of the nineteenth-century penitentiary movement throughout the country. In particular, the Auburn system of discipline--congregate work by day, solitary separation in cells at night, enforced silence, lockstep formations, and severe corporal punishment--served as a model for similar institutions elsewhere.

Elmira Reformatory was the first adult reformatory in the country and precipitated a national reformatory movement. Elmira's innovative, highly publicized program included indefinite sentences based on conduct and performance, individualized treatment of inmates, and the extensive use of parole. In the development of reformatories for women, Bedford Hills was extremely important and its programs were emulated at many other institutions. Most influential were Bedford's programs for the scientific study of "feeblemindedness" and "defective-delinquents" as causes of crime.

Until 1846, the State's corrections system was administered by a board of inspectors that in turn appointed wardens for each prison. The State constitution of 1846 established a single Board of Prisons to oversee all State prisons, and in 1876 this board was replaced by the Office of Superintendent of State Prisons.

The reorganization of State government in 1925 and 1926 abolished the Office of Superintendent of State Prisons and set up a Department of Correction headed by a commissioner appointed by the governor (Laws of 1926, Chapter 606). In addition to continuing the work of the superintendent of state prisons, the Department of Correction also assumed the functions of the State Board of Charities relating to correctional institutions. Since 1867, the State Board of Charities and its predecessor, the Board of State Commissioners of Public Charities, had been responsible for supervising correctional institutions (except prisons) and reformatories in the State.

The new department was comprised of four divisions: a Division of Administration, responsible for custody of inmates and maintenance of institutions; a Division of Prison Industries, supervising prison and reformatory production shops and farm work; a Division of Parole; and a Division of Probation. In 1930 (Chapter 824), the Division of Parole was transferred from the Department of Correction to the Executive Department.

In 1970 (Chapter 475), the present Department of Correctional Services was created. It consolidated the previous Department of Correction, the State Commission of Correction (established in 1926), and the Division of Parole. A 1970 companion law (Chapter 479) removed the Division of Probation from the new department and transferred it to the Executive Department. In 1972 (Chapter 399), the department's Division of Criminal Investigation was transferred to the newly formed Division of Criminal Justice Services in the Executive Department. In 1973 (Chapter 398), the Commission of Correction was also separated from the department and made an independent agency within the Executive Department. In 1977, administration of hospitals for mentally ill inmates was transferred to the Department of Mental Hygiene (Chapter 978) and the Division of Parole was again removed from the department and made an independent Executive Department agency (Chapter 904).

In 1987, the department inaugurated an innovative Shock Incarceration program aimed at reducing length of prison stays and recidivism among nonviolent first felony offenders. Inmates who meet specific program criteria and are within three years of release are offered the opportunity to volunteer for the six-month program, which features intensive academic study, drug treatment, personal counseling, demanding physical labor, and rigorous military-style discipline. As of 2004 over 31,000 inmates, including women who were admitted beginning in 1988, had completed the program and earned early release.

In 1995, building on many of the concepts featured in the Shock Incarceration program, the Department opened the Willard Drug Treatment Campus as an alternative to incarceration. The Willard Treatment Campus was meant for non-violent offenders whose crimes had been substance abuse related. In 1998 the Department established an automated telephone system to be used by the public (including victims and family members of victims) to receive information about the crime and sentence of particular inmates. In 1999, the Department began operating an online database from which the public can obtain similar information, as well as information regarding inmate age, ethnicity, race, and county of commitment. That same year, in an attempt to consolidate functions and reduce expenses, the Parkside Correctional Facility was closed and certain infirmaries were consolidated.

From the New York State Archives, Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY. Agency record NYSV86-A363