The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-19
A NEEDED PRISON REFORM.

"A hbE OhM
There is one feature of the prison
system in this State that should be re-
formed as soon as possible. We refer
to the fact that both departments of the
Female Reformatory, viz, the penal de-
partment and the reformatory depart
ment, are in the same building. While
both of these departments were created
by the same act and are parts of the
same system, they are distinct In their
nature and purpose. One is a prison for
female cOnvicts, such as were formerly
sent to the State prison, while the other
is for the reception of girls under the
age of fifteen years who may be sent
there for incorrigible or vicious conduct,
or on account Of the moral depravity of
their parents or guardian. The penal
department is place for the confne-
ment of women over the age of fifteen
years who have been convicted of crime,
while the reformatory department is a
school of correction for girls under tif-
teen years of age. 1t needs very little
reflection to convince any person with
slight acquaintance with criminOlOgy
that these two institutions should not be
under the same roof. If it is true, as all
experience proves, that young Grim
inals should never be confined or assO-
ciated with old ones, it is still more
true that little children and young girls
who have never been convicted of any
crime should not be housed under the
same roof with female convicts of ma
ture years, including murderers, burg
lars, thieves and vicious criminals of all
kinds. The idea of such association is
morally repulsive. OF the $50 girls un-
der fifteen years Of age now in the re-
formatory department, some have COM
mtted petty crimes, but the most have
committed no crime whatever. A large
majority are young girls OF vicious In
clination, or little children who have
been removed from bad surroundings
and sent here for safe keeping and
reformation. TO cOnfine these girls in
the same building with a large number
of female cOnyictS of mature age. some
of whom are confirmed criminals, is al
together wrong. 1t is q crime against
the State. 1t is true the two classes are
kept as separate as possible under the
circumstances, occupying different parts
of the building and only coming to.
gether in chapel on Sundays, but the
fact remains that they are under the
same roof and the utmost vigilance of
officers cannot prevent some commune
cation between them. What would be
thought of proposition to transfer the
Boys Reform School from Plaintield to
Jacksonville or Michigan City and
place the boys under the same roof
That is precisely what is now done with
girls under fifteen years of age who are
sent to the Female RefOrmatory.
The present arrangement is a plain
violation of law. The act establishing
the institution, says, Section 3:
The said Institution shall consist of two
separate and distinct departments. one of
which shall BIZ designated rs the 'reforma-
tory department" and the other as the
penal department" Both of said depart
ments shall be under the management OF
the Sumo officers; but separate buildings
for the inmates of each department shall
be provided on the same grounds.
In view of this provision il is not easy
TO see where the first board of managers
of the institution found authority to
place both departments under the same
roof. The mistake, once committed,
has been continued fifteen years.
1t is understood that majority of the
present managers of the institution are
strongly in favor OF complying with the
foregoing provision of law by providing
separate building for the girls under
fifteen years of age, and whenever cir
cumstances favor the movement they
will bring it to the attention of the
Legislature. 1t is SO obviously just and
right. and so plainly in accordance with
the law that it ought to receive prompt
and favorable consideration.