The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-02-15

THE WOMEN'S PRISON.
Judge knights Views of It's Necess

Judge Knights Views OF It's Necessity.
At the hearing before the judiciary com
mittee of the House on the subject of estab-
fishing women's reformatory prison, the fol-
lowing letter from Judge Enoch knight was
read
"It is impossible for me to appear before the
committee at the time and for the purpose
named In your note, but beg you to say to
whomever it may be of any use or weigb5.
that do most cordially and fully agree with
move. .''' '''''' =
There is, no doubt, plenty of room for inn
provement in our prison system generally but
that there should be no thought taken of The
peculiar needs of the unfortunate female class
is simply scandalous. They upon whom the
consequences of vice fall with well nigh fatal
effect. ought surely to have the benefit offit
ard suitable employment, and wholesome dis
cipEne, If not the constant and charitable
care that might be possible to give in their
case But now they do not have even the pro-
tections of isolation. Exile were better than
the want of classifying, and the lack of en-
ployment under the present means of caring
for women who suffer imprisonment under our
laws, and there is small chance, under our
present system, Of restraining, reforming and
restoring women convicts to any respectable
place IN the working forces of the world
have yet TO learn of one penal or reforma-
tory institution in the land which has succe-d-
ed in doing any positively reforming work
without complete Sc paration of the sexes and
the most thoughtful and faithful provisions
for their several varied employments and in
struction separation as complete as if roofs
and administration were wide apart. Indeed,
every departure from this plan has borne fruit
of the most unwholesome sort.
To any one who has been called to think of
these things, this undertaking of yours to do
something to better the condition of girls and
women who have fallen into vice, seems
not only no innovation, but simple and plaiu
demand OF Justice and of worldly wisdom.
With the exception of the excellent beginning
in the Industrial School for Girls, at Halo
well, we have no provisions for the care of
females in our prison system such as seems
consistent with the spirit of the age. At the
best they are prescribed in way unknown to
any other class OF unfortunates, and an honest
and intelligent movement on the part of the
women of the State to help them ought to be
met in chivalrous and earnest spirit by the
legislature. have no plan to propose, nor do
know OF any existing building suitable for
the purpose. But surely help will not be want.
ing to provide means to second and supple
ment what the State NAV be expected to do in
order to give the undertaking fair trial. 1t
seems as If there could be found suitable quar-
tors in some existing workshop or county Jail
that might be set apart for the use you ask
and thus make 1t easy to inaugurate the work
you propose. To such a beginning in good
time there would be added all things that it
should be found to deserve; aud gradually the
punishments now prescribed by law could be
SO adjusted and applied as to get the best rs-
suits of reiormatory discipline-results that
are impossible Of attainment through any ex-
istiDg means, but worse than all, do not APP
pear TO have been seriously expected or con-
templated.
have neither time nor space to elaborate
this theme, and all can do is to add to the
cause the testimony of my experience and OBJ
servation during long administration of the
pr aipa 1ox atNa1, tost frnlxr ato
ENocH KNIGHT
Portland, Feb. 10, 1888.