Daily Kennebec journal., 1918-09-17
INSPECTION OF WON
ANS REFORMATORY

OF LS L lO1N VI '0NA
ANS REFORMATORY
The report Of the State Board OF
Charities and Corrections Of the last
inspection Of the Womans Reforma-
tory at Skowhegan has been efieo
with the Governor and Council.
The reformatory was established
by act of the Legislature Of 1915;
opened in 1916. Governing body, five
trustees, two of whom are women ap-
pointed by The Governor for five years
terms, one expiring each year, COM
pensation $5 per day and expenses,
when actually employed. Executive
officer in charge, Mrs. Gertrude 5.
Wight. superintendent Other en-
ployees, farmer (Mr. Wight assist
ant farmer, and six matrons. nurses
and teachers. A physician and dem
tist are also regularly employed but
these are not resident officers.
The buildings are in very good con-
dition There is only one new build
ing. the Stevens cottage, brick
structure, two stories and basement.
Farm and Garden
The farm and the gardens are look
ing well. Stock is in good condition.
Development of a registered herd Of
COWS and of pigs is advisable.
There are two sources Of water
supply, the town system, for fire pro-
/ lection. and springs on the property
! for drinking and domestic service.
Buildings are supplied with chemical
| fire extingushers and with fire es-
capes.
! Cleanliness and sanitation-Condi-
tons coming under this heading We're
| excellent.
Care of sick-A trained nurse is one
| of the regular employees. There are
! as yet no special quarters for the
! care Of the sick. The regular en-
| ployment of a physician and dentist
| has been noted above.
| instruction and employment-The
women are regularly instructed in all
| of the household arts, learning by do
| ing under competent teachers. A
| school of letters IS being maintained.
! though at the time of this visit closed
for the summer. No definite courses
\ have as yet been mapped out but an
| effort has been made to teach each
| one according to her needs. 1t is
thought it would be we'll to ask the
assistance Of the State Superintend-
ent of schools in mapping out sew
eral courses adapted to the needs of
the inmates, Lot only as :. school of
letters but in vocational instruction
as well. Most Of the women are
young enough to profit largely by in
struction in both directions.
Discipline--Only on some seven
windows are there any grills. At
| temptS 1T escape are rare, and recov-
cries are prompt. There seems to
be an entire absence of any of the
repressive discipline of the old fash
| Toned prison type. The women, gen
orally, appear like a large family. in
! some ways perhaps children of a
larger growth. 1t must not be
! thought, however. that any improper
conduct is tolerated. The aim is sim
ply to secure the natural expression
| OF the ordinary tendencies of each in
| mate so far as consistent with a prop
while at the institution, and later out
side in society.
Capaclty-The institution is very
much over crowded. There were for
ty-hve women and seven babies pres
ent on the day Of this visit Five Of
the women are quartered in the al-
nlnistration building. the remodelled
farm house. This leaves forty wo-
men and seven babies to occupv a
cottage designed for twenty seven.
Additional cottages are already
much needed. Several will he re-
qulred by the time they can be CON
structed. The cottage and farm col
ony plan should be rigidly adhered to.
| New cottages should not have quar-
terS for more than Il women Each
should be as nearly complete home
unit as practical and there should be
ample distances between them.
The law provides that babies under
| one year may be sent to the Refor
matory with their mothers and that
they may remain there until two
years of age. This is as it should
be. The proper place for a child of
that age, both for its own sake and
for th2 sake Of its mother as well, is
with her. Three babies have reen
born at the institution. Suitable
quarters for the care of mothers with
children in small cottage practical
ly by themselves is one Of the first
needs of the Reformatory.
Parole department-There nave
been sixty-five commitments since
the opening in the latter part of 1916.
One has died. Forty five are present.
Nineteen are on parole. These wo-
men are at present under the super
vision of the individual members OF
the Board of Trustees. An examina-
ton of the reco: DIS of these paroled
women on file at the office of the in
stitution dscloses no system or re-
(AT DnTY