N.Y. Correct. Law § 125

§ 125. Incarcerated individuals' money, clothing and other property;\nwhat to be furnished them on their release. 1. The superintendent, or an\nemployee covered by bond who is designated by the superintendent, of\neach correctional facility shall take charge of all moneys and other\narticles which may be brought to the facility by the incarcerated\nindividuals, and shall cause the same, immediately upon the receipt\nthereof, to be entered among the receipts of the facility; which money\nand other articles, whenever the incarcerated individual from whom the\nsame was received shall be discharged from the custody of the\ndepartment, or the same shall be otherwise legally demanded, shall be\nreturned by the said superintendent to such incarcerated individual 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 incarcerated individuals are transferred from one facility\nto another.\n 2. The superintendent of each of said facilities shall furnish to each\nincarcerated individual who shall be discharged or released from said\nfacility by pardon, parole, conditional release or otherwise, except\nsuch incarcerated individuals as are released for return for resentence\nor new trial or upon a certificate of reasonable doubt, and except such\nincarcerated individuals who are released to participate in a program\noutside the facility who are required to return to the facility,\nsuitable clothing adapted to the season in which he or she is discharged\nnot to exceed sixty-five dollars in value and transportation to the\ncounty of his or her conviction or to such other place as the\ncommissioner may designate. In addition, the commissioner shall take\nsuch steps as are necessary to ensure that incarcerated individuals have\nat least forty dollars available upon release.\n 3. In any case where an incarcerated individual is not entitled to\nreceive clothing and transportation under subdivision two of this\nsection, the superintendent, in his or her discretion, but subject to\nthe rules of the department, may furnish an incarcerated individual who\nis released from a facility with clothing or transportation not in\nexcess of the value for each item specified in subdivision two of this\nsection.\n