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Freedom of Information: Covering Prisons
Covering Prisons: New York

New York State Department of Correctional Services Web site.

State Policies Governing Media Access
View the New York State Department of Correctional Services policy governing the release of information to the media.

Inmates may be interviewed by news media representatives. Conditions are set by the superintendent of the facility where the inmate is housed. Press interviews of inmates by telephone are prohibited.

To arrange an interview, contact the department’s Office of Public Information. The reporter should first the inmate and receive the inmate’s approval before proceeding.

All interviews are supervised.

Information on media access to inmates under the sentence of death can be found in the executions policy.

Rules Governing Reporting Tools
Inmates must agree in writing to identifiable photographs. Written consent of the inmate is recorded for an interview to be recorded.

Visitation List Rules
Contact the New York State Department of Correctional Services. See contact information below.

Execution Witness Policies
Information on media access to inmates under the sentence of death and media witnesses to executions can be found in the executions policy.

Four media witnesses are allowed. The Associated Press is guaranteed a spot, and the other three slots are divided out by three lottery drawings. One is from daily print media covering the county where the crime occurred. One is from the broadcast media who generally cover the county where the crime occurred, and the final slot is from the daily print and broadcast media who generally cover the county where the execution will take place.

Required Forms
An interview consent form is available as part of the policy on news media access.

State Correctional Contacts
New York State
Department of Correctional Services
Building 2
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12226-2050
518/457-8126

Jim Flateau, Director of Public Information
518/457-8182
Fax: 518/457-7070
E-mail: pressofficecp@docs.state.ny.us

SPJ Project Sunshine Chair Contact Information
The Society's Project Sunshine chairs in each state monitor FOI activities and report to the national SPJ FOI Committee. These individuals are a valuable resource for state FOI Information as they organize and monitor state and local FOI efforts.

Contact SPJ’s Project Sunshine Chair in New York.