You can check the New York State Archives. There is a section that has information on the correctional facilities in NYS. I recently found one of my relatives listed as an inmate at Elmira in the 1920's census. I contacted the archives to see if I could get prison records for him ( I know that he died in 1958), but they told me that they do not release the admissions records until 75 yrs. after the death of the person. However they do have Biographical registers and receiving blotters. Unfortunately, I would have to go to Albany to research it. Good luck! Christine