N.Y. Correct. Law § 90

§ 90. Purposes of article. The purposes of the provisions of this\narticle are:\n 1. To provide correctional programs for persons who receive sentences\nof imprisonment with terms of one year or less and who otherwise would\nbe confined in institutions in counties that do not have a sufficient\nnumber of incarcerated individuals to justify construction of an\nadequate correctional institution or operation of a modern correctional\nprogram;\n 2. To provide a method of relieving space pressures in correctional\ninstitutions operated by local government; and\n 3. To expand the use of programs designed to bridge the gap between\nincarceration and activities in the community, through the use of\ninstitutions operated by local government as facilities for residential\ntreatment of persons in the custody of the state department of\ncorrections and community supervision.\n