The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-15
LARGER QUARTERS
SORELY NEEDED At
GIRLS REFUGE HOME
B0deker Says Police Handi-
capped; No Place for I'm
fortunate Women
CAN ACCOMMODATE Ia;
26 ARE THERE NOW
Chief of Police 'nts Out Need
of Detention Roo. for Women
at City Hall-Should En-
courage Reform

Chief of Police George H. Bodeker
yesterday made an appeal to the state
authorities for much needed improve
ments at the Alabama Home of Refuge
for Girls at East Lake. This is an in
stitution operated by the state and the
chief of police of Birmingham in plain
language declares that the present
home Is entirely Inadequate for the de-
mands made upon 1t by the city and
county authorities.
That there should be a public awak-
ening as to the conditions that exist
at the East Lake home is the emphatic
opinion of Chief Bodeker. He states
that the Home of Refuge has a capa-
city for only Ia inmates. and that at
the present time there are rs unfor-
tunate girls being cared for In make
shift manner. Also it is a fact that
Mrs. Hutchinson. the woman police Of
ficer, has a half dozen girls that she
has had to place on probation because
of the lack of facilities at the Ala
bama Home of Refuge.
"It is a deplorable state of affairs"
said Chief Bodeker, that there should
not be any place at the present time
to place the unfortunate women that
fall into our hands. The Alabama
Home of Refuge. operated by the state
of Alabama is entirely inadequate and
can only take care of Ia inmates COM
fortably. AT the present time there
are 36 women at the Home of Refuge
sleeping on cots, pallets and anywhere
else a resting place in the present home
can be found. To make matters worse,
Mrs. Hutchinson, the woman police of
ficer, informs me that she has a half
dozen girls ready to be placed in the
Home of Refuge. but this cannot be
done because the home is already
greatly overcrowded.
improvements at the Alabama Home
of Refuge are rfeeded at the present
time much more than improvements
at jails or any public buildings The
state, county and city should take this
matter up at once and plans made to
enlarge the home or another place built
to take care of the unfortunate women
that are daily finding their way into
the hands of the police.
Thanks to the missionary work of
Mrs Wilson Searight and Mrs. Hutch
inson, many girls with blighted lives
have expressed the desire to reform
They are anxious to climb back into the
world of respectability and 1t is the
duty of the state, county and munich
pality to help all these women. AT
present conditions are that we cannot
help them and l sincerely hope public
interest will be aroused so that help
Wi IL,
the lack of suitable quarters to care
for repentent women.
Il feel that she light of publicity should
be thrown strongly on this problem, which
is vital to rs ALL These women are out
casts but they have been made so by
community which is too busy growing in
power and affluence to look after the
weaklings We should not go so fast ana
we should take care of all those that fall
by the wayside.
Now. in october the restricted district
is to be abolished. There is no hope for
its continuance. Ii will be abolished be-
cause an enlightened public opinion de-
mands 1t. This will throw many of these
women on the community. Many of these
have strength of character enough to re-
form if they are given any encourage
ment and Ill conscientious citizens win
agree with me that there should be a suit
able place for these women.
In connection with this matter 1 must
speak of the demands for a detention
room at police headquarters. This mat
ter has been tagging for a long time, and
as yet can2ot see when a detention room
will be built. There are improvements
being made In the lecorder's court and IL
the city jail. but detention room for girls
is apparently unthought at the present
time.
My detectives are continually raiding
throughout the city, and it is no uncon-
mon thing 20 see a half dozen white girls
being arrested in disorderly houses any
night. With many of these girls it is
their first offense and they should not oe
placed in jail vita its insdious influences.
Il hope the city commissioners will see
their way to build place of detention for
girls in connection with police headquar-
ters. This should be done as quickly as
possible as the need for 1t is daily grow
ing for it,
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