The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-06-28
CHAPTER l,l7s.

Passed April 25, lS90)
AN ACT In Relation TO Police Matrons In the
several cities Of the State.
1t is enacted by the General Assembly as fol-
lows:
SECTION I. The Board of Aldermen in every
after the passage Of this act, designate one or
more station-houses within their respective
cities for the detention of all women under ar
rest; and such Boards Of Aldermen may, at
any time thereafter, so designate any addition
al station-house or station-houses, and may de-
clare such station-house or station-houses to
be no longer so designated: Provided, at least
one such station-house shall always remain 80
designated In each city.
SEC. 2. Immediately upon such designation
of a station house in any city, the Mayor there
of shall appoint for each station house so des-
ignated, In the city Of Providence two respecta-
BILE women, and in each OF the other cities one
respectable woman, who shall be known as Po-
lice Matrons. No woman shall be appointed
Police Matron unless recommended for such
Office In writing by at least twenty women In
good standing and residents In the city In
which such appointment Is made. A Police
Matron shall not be appointed for any definite
term, but to hold Office until removal. She may
be removed at any time for cause by the Mayor,
by written order stating the cause Of removal.
Upon the death, resignation, or removal of q
Police Matron, her successor shall be appoint
ed in the manner aforesaid as soon as may be.
SEC. g. The respective hours Of service Of the
Police Matrons shall be so arranged by the au-
thorities In charge Of the Police Department
that, In the city Of Providence, at least one ma
tron shall at all hours Of the day and night DO
on duty, and In each of the other cities one
shall at all hours be near to and within call of
each police station designated as above pro-
vided. Every Police Matron within the city of
Providence shall, during her hours Of service,
remain constantly on duty at the station at
which she serves, and every Police Matron in
each of the other cities shall reside at or near
the station to which she is attached. and shall
hold herself in readiness to answer any call
therefrom during her hours of service SO long
as any woman remains confined therein.
SEC. 1. The Police Matron shall have. sub
ject only TO the general control Of the head of
the Police Department, the entire care Of all
women held under arrest in the station In
which she serves or to which she Is attached,
and she may at any time call upon any police
officer In such station for assistance.
SEC. 8. In every station In which Police
Matron serves, or TO which Police Matron is
attached, sufficient and proper accommoda-
tions shall be provided for women confined un-
der arrest, and In case such accommodation
shall be insufficient or improper, such Matron
shall notify the Mayor, and il shall be the duty
of the Mayor to lay the matter before the City
Council, and Of the City Council to provide, at
the expense OF the city, such sufficient and
proper accommodations.
SEC. o. Whenever, I'm any city where any
Police Matron shall be appointed under this
act. woman is arrested and taken TO police
station TO which a Matron Is attached, and
where such Matron Is not then present, IL shall
be the duty of the officer in charge of such sta
ton TO cause such Matron TO be summoned
forthwith; and whenever. in any city In which
q Police Matron has been appointed, woman
Is arrested and taken to the station house to
which no Matron Is attached, IL shall be the
duty Of the officer in charge TO cause such
woman prisoner to be removed, as soon as pos
sible, to the nearest station house to which Q
Police Matron is attached.
SECT. At least one Police Matron in each
city shall be designated by the Chief of Police Of
said city to attend before the District and Po-
lice Courts at all times when any woman is to
be arraigned before such Court, and shall have
charge of all women there In attendance await
ing trial or TO transfer from the Court to eny
other place Of detention.
SEC. 8. In this act the expression 'police sta
ton" shall include any place where persons arc
temporarily confined under arrest; the express
sion woman" shall include any person of tho
female sex.
SEQ o. The salary of the Police Matrons IN
each city shall be fixed by the City Council.
SEC. 10. This act shall take effect upon its
passage.