A person arrested, by virtue of an order of arrest, in an action or special proceeding brought in a court of record; or of an execution issued upon a judgment rendered in a court of record; or surrendered in exoneration of his bail; must be safely kept in custody, in the manner prescribed by law, and, except as herein otherwise provided, at his own expense, until he satisfies the judgment rendered against him, or is discharged according to law. In any county, if a prisoner, actually confined in jail, makes oath before the sheriff, jailer, or deputy-jailer, that he is unable to support himself during his imprisonment, his support is a county charge.
New York Legal Code