This series contains analysis of N.Y. State legislation bills by coalition staff and decisions to support or oppose a bill. The series also contains bill monitoring in the assembly and senate 1983-1984, along with bill reporting forms. Many Assembly and Senate bills, along with bill calendars/index can also be found for 1983-1984. Paperwork on opposition to the death penalty for the years of 1979-1984 are also present, lists of Assembly and Senate leaders stating their position on the death penalty, and the 1984 State of the State Message given by Mario M. Cuomo. Insanity defense paperwork by the New York Defenders Association, INC. can be found, along with memorandums of support for several different bills concerning such topics as acts to amend the criminal procedure laws, correctional law, and the penal law etc. The series contains proposed legislation concerning Parole, Permitting Prisoners Serving Life Sentences To Marry, Pre-trial Detention, Probation, Sealing Misdemeanor Records, Victim Compensation Laws, Marijuana Reform, Prison Construction, and Programs For Released Prisoners.

The Issues Files were created by the CCJ to collect background information on subjects related to criminal justice reform. The series contains correspondence between Thomas A. Coughlin, Commissioner, and all the New York State central office and facility staff concerning new affirmative action plans. Included are the Commissioners remarks presented to the Assembly Sub-Committee on Affirmative Action in 1980. Also present is information on programs established as alternatives to incarceration 1975-1980, the Attica prisoners 28 demands/convict proposals, along with the correctional guards Union 82 list of demands, and the papers on the legal aftermath of the Attica uprising, mainly concerning the Attica legal defense fund. Also available are newsletters of EUI, [Ending Unnecessary Imprisonment] in New York State, citizen participation (how to) papers, and Christian statements concerning the criminal justice system. A Corrections Information Series for jail classification can also be found concerning background information, court decisions, ACA standards, and examples of classification systems for small, medium, and large prisons. Several other reports can be found on issues such as "Community Alternatives to Maximum Security" 1974-1975, a "Proposal to Repeal New York's Second Felony Offender Law", "Philosophies of Punishment and Correction", "Fines: An Inquiry Into The Use of Fines As an Alternative to Incarceration", "Probation Subsidy", and a summary of the New York State YWCA Intervention Program sponsored by the New York State Commission of Correction. Information related to the expansion of prisons and the prison bond issue intended to fund the expansion including Gov. Plans 1980-1981, Coalition responses and alternatives 1978-1982, Committee hearings 1982, testimony by Coalition members 1981-1982.

The Division of Correctional Services is responsible for the care, custody, and rehabilitation of all offenders sentenced to its institutions. Included for the division of correctional services is a summary of appropriations and estimated expenditures for 1977, and a budget for 1980. Administrative bulletins can be found concerning such topics as work release, temporary release program violators, leave of absence and furlough 1972-1974. Also included are several Correctional services procedure directives concerning the inmate liaison committee, affirmative action, research studies and surveys, minimum provisions for health and morale, inmate group activities and organizations, and human rights complaints. Also found are inspection reports concerning fire and housing for the Elmira correctional center 1980-1982, inmate grievance mechanisms and case records 1975-1976.

The file consists primarily of correspondence and reports received from the Division of Parole. Included is the National Survey of Good-Time Laws And Administrative Procedures for 1973, which was distributed by the Research and Development Division of the Texas Department of Corrections, along with Uniform Parole reports summary tables from 1974 for male prisoners. A list of the 1975 New York State Parole Board members can be found, including salaries and term expirations. In addition, tables of probation information for 1974 are included. Also found is the forty-seventh annual report of the Board of Parole of the Department of Correctional Services for the year of 1976, this report includes such topics as rules and regulations, types of sentences, methods/basis of release, violation of parole and hearings. In addition a report from the Task Force on Criminal Sentencing which discusses fair and certain punishment is available for 1976.