N.Y. Correct. Law § 125

§ 125. Inmates' money, clothing and other property; what to be\nfurnished them on their release. 1. The superintendent, or an employee\ncovered by bond who is designated by the superintendent, of each\ncorrectional facility shall take charge of all moneys and other articles\nwhich may be brought to the facility by the inmates, and shall cause the\nsame, immediately upon the receipt thereof, to be entered among the\nreceipts of the facility; which money and other articles, whenever the\ninmate from whom the same was received shall be discharged from the\ncustody of the department, or the same shall be otherwise legally\ndemanded, shall be returned by the said superintendent to such inmate or\nother person legally entitled to the same, and vouchers shall be taken\ntherefor. The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations\nconcerning the custody and transfer of such money and other articles in\ncases where inmates are transferred from one facility to another.\n 2. The superintendent of each of said facilities shall furnish to each\ninmate who shall be discharged or released from said facility by pardon,\nparole, conditional release or otherwise, except such inmates as are\nreleased for return for resentence or new trial or upon a certificate of\nreasonable doubt, and except such inmates who are released to\nparticipate in a program outside the facility who are required to return\nto the facility, suitable clothing adapted to the season in which he or\nshe is discharged not to exceed sixty-five dollars in value and\ntransportation to the county of his or her conviction or to such other\nplace as the commissioner may designate. In addition, the commissioner\nshall take such steps as are necessary to ensure that inmates have at\nleast forty dollars available upon release.\n 3. In any case where an inmate is not entitled to receive clothing and\ntransportation under subdivision two of this section, the\nsuperintendent, in his discretion, but subject to the rules of the\ndepartment, may furnish an inmate who is released from a facility with\nclothing or transportation not in excess of the value for each item\nspecified in subdivision two of this section.\n