The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-01-10
Police MatrOMs.

What we ask, beginning at the police stations
is that police matrons, with full police authority
should be stationed at central places in every city,
and that every woman arrested should be given
into their hands to be searched and cared for.
This care should extend into the police or justice
court, and continue until they released OF
comm tied. 1t does not require a moment $
thought to see the propr ETY. OF such arrange
ment The degrading effect OF the present system
is too obvious to need comment.
OF course. are met at with the state
ment that "a woman could not handle or manage
the women hooked by the pc ice " Did you ever hear
of policeman CHANGING upon an emergency when
he obliged to call for help in the discharge Of
his duty? And was It deemed disqualification
for his office? If woman should be so helplessly
vi roarIously int xcated as to, require more
than one person to manage her, would it not be in
the interest of morality to give her at least the
shield of pure wOman's presence -one who could
br .ng to bear force more potent tLan muscular
strength?
In our investiga cations. invariably met
w tn the declaration: There is 20 need of
man here: officers very careful and partic-
ular." NO OTHER retutation of this assertion is
needed than few unannounced visits to police
stat and the casual CLEAN ngs from the records
there. In city told: ''Oh. when
have too bad call III the woman who
does the scrubb ng- Salinda.' the boys cali her
and they have great fun when she gets hold of the
critters" The only reply was, that wished to
have woman whom the boys would not call
sal nda.
Again, the objection comes: You could not find
decent woman who would take such place"
Yet when opening made for such officer,
ment. has an al plicant for the positions; and tie
keen comprehension of the duties required was
one occasion shown b, the assurance that THE
boys would like her round, and she could lift
barrel of flour, or knock man down, with any of
them
In one city while the eed of such an arrange
ment was under discussion, there were two births
in the police station in the course of as many
months; ami not even the scrubbing woman was
called in.
In the police stat ons, hundreds of young women
found, who have yielded to temptation or
who victims of unfortunate environment and
circumstances. If they can be rescued from the
degradation of search and subsequent contact
with the police. and, by yield ng firm and moth
erly advice. escape the police court. and for
brief time be given into judicious care. the whole
current of their lives may be changed. Thus,
from an economic point of view, the munic patty
is benefited.
The arguments which apply to the need of po-
lice matrons have added weight in regard to ma
irons for ais and city PRISONS. inasmuch as there
are opportunities for a continued course of evil,
in places Of more seclusion.
When 1 commenced my investigations in regard
to tn matter. found places. including the U. s.
Jail at Washington where women were detained
for months and even years. and. sick or WE'LL were
in the care of male officials, who sometimes dele.
gated special duties connected with the women's
department to such convicts were considered
trustworthy. To say that there are still many
such places whose records. unwr item but indeli-
BILE. are being stamped upon human lives, is but
to give glimpse of the truth. The reports are
too revolving for repetition pubcation.-Mrs
J. K. Barney, at Atlanta. on Prison Sunday.