Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-11-29
Report of Parole Officer
Of WOmen's RefOrmatOry

ncer at the ReIOfmdtOTy LOT NoHep
at Skowhegan, in her annual report
which has been filed with the Cover
nor and Council, says that since the
institution was started II women
have been paroled and at the present
time 60 are under the supervision of
the Reformatory. Some of these have
been allowed to return to their own
homes, others are in domestic serv-
ice, some are in mills and some are
married and are now making homes
of their own.
I'm the cases of the married women
allowed to go back to their own
homes. many have made good" says
Miss Holman in her report.
1.-The home ties, the children and
love for them, with the responsibility
she feels for their future have all had
their part in bringing about the up
building of her own life" continues
Miss Holman in her report.
1T is a true saying that we are
never so strong as when we are trying
to help a weaker one, and if our
paroled mothers can be impressed
with the idea of service to their
homes and to the community, can get
thoughts above themselves, there is
little doubt about the outcome OF
parole for them.
IF, on the other hand they go home
to a community already prepared to
expect their downfall. to husband
who is not willing or mentally capable
Of doing his part, to disguised and
unsympathetic parents or relatives, in
this case too there is little doubt
about the outcome of parole for them.
From our brief experience in the
work, it has not been found expedient
to return the unmarried girl to her
father and mother. If they have not
been able to control her before she
came to us, in nine cases out of ten
they cannot do so afterwards. She
goes home among the old associates,
the mother is inclined to pity her,
the reins of discipline hang loosely
and the results are quick to show.
Ii many instances the parental homes
are not suitable places at all for the
young women to return to. the parents
themselves being immoral SO taking
all into consideration our greatest
successes with unmarried girls have
not come by sending them back to
their parents.
"Some provision must be made for
them. From choice all would prefer
! work in mills or factories on account
of the increased wage available and
because they feel more free. For that
very reason we do not want them in
mills and factories. 1t can only mean
harm for one of this class to have all
they money they can spend, for costly
and snowy apparel will start them
back on the old path. -
Freedom Is something they have
not fully learned how to use and
leisure hours spent in a lodging place
or boarding house are not safe. At
present we have only two women en-
gagged in this work. One boards ait
home and the other is obliged to room
/ in boarding house. Our best sue
cess with the young women have been
when We have placed them at dones-
| tic service. We have not sought to
place them with the very wealthy.
where the maid becomes a mere part
of domestic machine and no
thought is given to her welfare and
pleasure that would mean lack of
personal supervision, loneliness and
discomfort.
1--WE have tried to find homes for
them with people of moderate means,
who will take them in as one of the
family, who are inspired with the
idea Of the slogan, a Man May Be
Down But He Is Never Out We
must of necessity be very careful of
our choice of homes and also in the
environment surrounding the girl in
her new place. We have been very
fortunate in this respect and the sue
cess Of the parole department has in
a great measure been due to the in
dividuai effort put forth by philan-
thropically inclined ladies in whose
homes our women have been placed.
"Some Of the women have been per-
mitted by the board of trustees to
marry and with few exceptions they
have done splendidly. The new re-
sponsibility which has como with the
home has served to- inspire them to
their best efforts.
1--WE have had failures and we have
had successes. Just now we are too
near our work to judge the final re-
suit but there can be no question but
that parole. properly conducted and
backed by the proper training in the
institution, does build for strength of
character and ability to use freedom
wisely"
The Statistical Statement
The statistical part Of the annual
report of the trustees of the Re-
formatory for Women at SkowlRgan
which has been filed with the Cover
nor and Council, shows that at the
last census of the institution the
number of inmates was SO; number
of commitments during the year, "a;
returned parole violators, IS: num-
Der paroled and replaced during the
year. 81; discharge TO other institu-
| tons. six: discharged on expiration
Of sentence, one; discharged by order
Of the court, one; returned from other
institutions, two; escapes. nine; re-.
turned escapes, nine; babies born
during the year, one: babies placed
out. seven: babies in the institution,
six.
The counties from which women
were committed during the past year
are as follows: Androscoggin, ten;
Aroostook, four; Cumberland, Il:
Kennebec. nine: Knox, one; Lincoln.
two: Oxford, three: Penobscot, one;
Piscataquis. FIVE: SagadaIoc, three:
Somerset, two: Waldo, two; Wash
ington. two; York. two.
The ages of the women in the in