Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-08-03
PRISON FOR WOMEN.
An Institution Ruled by Influence Instead
~ TFnrem

OF Force.
The visitor to the little town OF Sher-
born, Mass, eight miles from South
Framingham, can see the group OF build
ings known as the Reformatory Prison
For Women. 1t is state prison and
was opened in 1878. At first it was con-
sidered great experiment, the plan OF
putting female criminals under reforma-
tory instead Of prison influence, but time
soon proved that the experiment was
successful. and the institution ID flourish
ing in everything but the number Of its
inmates. That has fallen of since the
first year, fact that is the best proof Of
Its efficiency. Tho average number or
prisoners for the first l2 months was
about 305, and the largest number there
at any time during that year was 467.
Now there are less than 800, and by the
record in the last report there were last
fall exactly 202 inmates.
The specially unique feature OF the
prison is that it il entirely Officered by
women. Men are employed as engi-
neers, carpenters. watchmen, fremen,
farmers and gardeners, and there Is one
electrician, tho buildings being lighted
by electricity, but every person directly
in charge of the prisoners is a woman.
There is a superintendent, physician
and chaplain, and the rest are matrons
and deputy matrons or assistant ma
irons. The word keeper" Ia not used
at Sherborn prison. Prisoners are sent
there for various terms, none less than q
year. At first short sentence prisoners
were received, but it was found that at
least year was needed for the reforma-
tory influences to make much impress
sion, and as that was the main object of
the whole plan tho time was increased.
The crimes committed are many, classi-
fed under three heads-offenses N
against person or property, (2) against
chastity, (3) against public order.
Good order is maintained not by
force, but by influence.
Among tho blue gowned women are all
sorts Of faces-blank, vicious, stolid,
brutal and bright. All have the look
that time spent in such healthful rou-
tine, away from vice, must give. Many
seem hopelessly bad, but nmany are seen
the signs OF an awakening and change.
These are the ones that will not come
back again when once out, because they
have permanently reformed There is
an organ on the chapel platform, and
when all are seated hymn is given out,
and some one plays. Each prisoner has
copy Of gospel hymns containing words
only, and many join in the hymn. The
reading of the Scripture and the Lords
prayer concludes the chapel service.
When q prisoner Is sent to SherbOrn.
she is not allowed to mingle with other
prisoners for awhile. She is given work
alone and sees only the kindly, refined
women who are her keepers and 10 grad
ually instructed in the rules OF the pris-
on. She is made to feel that those In
charge are anxious to help her turn over
a new leaf even in prison and that the
time she must remain and the advan-
tages she can have depend upon her con-
duct. There are four grades or prison.
ers Grade is the lowest. Entering
prisoners are put in grade to work
their way mp or down. In grade they
have cells. in the nrnar grades raaA
rooms.
Ten credit marks are given each week
to well behaved prisoner. BY the law
every such prisoner has three days com
muted from months sentence, and 10
demerits will cancel one Of the days COM
muted. OF course most of the prisoners
try to behave The merit marks also ef-
feet promotion to higher grades, and
rule that the women know well is ''the
higher the grade the greater the privi-
leges. Those in grade are allowed
lights in their rooms evenings. At the
end of the first month new prisoner is
allowed to mingle with the rest while nc
work The women do all kinds OF plain
needlework - especially shirtmaking-
laundry work. chair Gaming, domestic
work, etc There is q farm connected
with the prison, and the best behaved
prisoners are allowed to do farm and
dairy work. All the products not need
ed there are sold.
A class for illiterates il held an hour
Fach day. 1t aims to teach women to
read in the hope that they will be more
likely to stay off the street when out of
prison. There is a good library for the
use of prisoners.
Chapel exercises take place every day,
and on Sundays there are regular serv-
ices, both Catholic and Protestant
There are often christenings of children
taken to the prison with their mothers
or born there, and occasionally burial
service.
The wonen's hair is not cut. but they
are required to keep it neat. Their
dresses are Of blue gingham. differ
ence in the check being noticeable be-
tween different grades. In winter they
wear shoulder shawls. but no collars or
any sign Of ornament.
ANNIE ISABEL WILLIS.
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