Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-18
STATES NEED FOR
REFORMATORY FOR WOMEN
DR.. Valera n. Parker Speaks Before
Senexet Grange in Woodstock

Representing the Connecticut Prison
Associations committee on delinquent
women and the Connecticut Society of
Social Hygiene, DIR. Valera H. Parker
field secretary of the latter organiza-
| ton, spoke before the Senexet grange
at Woodstock on Wednesday evening
on the topic, Connecticut'S Need of a
State Reformatory for DELINQUENT
Women. The address was in conjunc-
ton with the statewide educational
campaign to enlist general support for
bill now before the legislature au-
thorizing the establishment of such an
institution. 1t is considered particu-
larly timely because of Governor
Marcus H. Holcomb's recommenda
tons in his inaugural message.
DR.. Parker. for several years, has
been prominent in the movement to
secure such an institution for Connec-
ticut and has appeared before union
church gatherings, D. A. r. chapters
Parent-Teacher associations and
neighborhood meetings throughout the
state.
AS a probation officer of wide ex-
perience, physician and investigator of
reformatory and correctional proce-
dure, she is particularly well fitted to
present the needs of the refornaatory
for delinquent women.
In opening, DR.. Parker spoke of the
methods now operative in dealing with
women coming under the Jurisdiction
of the criminal law. The only alter
native for a judge is to sentence a
woman to the county Jail or to i'm
pose fine The latter frequently
means that the woman only goes out
on the street to earn the amount of
her fine. The effect of either judg-
ment is certainly not reformative. The
women simply go back to their old |
of life and become a menace
to the community. Nearly all such |
women are immoral and nearly all of |
those who are immoral are diseased !
Such women spread the contagion of |
diseases which are more disastrous |
than any other communicable dis |
eases.
In Connecticut, she explained, there |
has long been a demand for a re- |
formatory for women but no. a great |
deal of attention was given to it until |
four years ago when former Governor |
Baldwin appointed a commission to |
inquire into the needs of such an in
stitution. Prof. William B. Bailey of |
Yale was appointed chairman of the
Despite the fact that 1
two members of the commission were
appointed to the reformatory at the
lime they were appointed the COM
mission reported unanimously in IA
Eor of a reformatory to be built on
he reformatory, following their thor
ough investigation into the needs of
such an institution.
In the last legislature a bill for this
was introduced 1t was
'eferred to the committee humane |
and at a largely attended !
tearing men and women representing
throughout the state APP |
feared to speed in favor of the bill. |
Not a voice was heard in opposition. |
The bill was favorably reported by ,
his committee and was sent to the
ommittee on appropriations.
Knowing that it would be difficult
o get the legislature to appropriate {
ny large sum of money, the support
rs of the bill asked only enough to i
uy the land, clear it and otherwise
repare it for future action. The ap-
tot nT1 -1x hat 4
ven this small amount was refused {
y the legislature although $42, 900 was {
appropriated at the same time for the | I
evision of the state laws. As a. con- Y
equence, all of the work had to be !
one over again and q new bill has 6
cen introduced in the present legis- I
AZURE. liz
DIR. Parker then described in detail 8
he procedure now IN vogue FUR veal q
ag with delinquent women and girls. +
iris under 16 years, she said, are Q
ommitted to the industrial school but q
Or the older girls and women there | t
nothing in Connecticut excepting
wo private institutions. the Home of t
be Good Shepherd at Hartford and &
Iaven. These two are quite made o
uate to deal with the number wo- a
len who are committed annually. An v
Their drawback is that these institu- o
nd cases to which the girls can be Q
ommitted who. while fnsubordfnate, I
ave not been guilty OF crime. At the &
resent time there is no room for the o
cases and, as a result, they n
ave to be neglected It is not wise b
mix the two cases. Il
The consequence is. DR.. Parker con- u
nued, that women have to be sent to
lie county Jail and, county jails are Il
D place for women. They have been er
1ilt for men and In some cases the c.
omen have to be confined to a small 81
,rridor OF the jail with no provisions K
n outdoor exercise. Women some- 8,
mes never get into the open air dur h
g the whole time Of their sentence. a 5,
ardship which may entail complete D.
IS Of life. In tho county jail, she a
Id there Is no possibility OF classi- e