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Period: Jun 9, 1200 to
Double-Deviant
Woman who commit crimes have been judged more harshly than men throughout time. Women are seen to have went outside their gender role as women by committing any crime. Women who have violated the law have been judged in terms of disgarding what men thought was their "subserviant" role. -
The Old Stone Jail
The Old Stone Jail sat at Third and Market Streets in Philadelphia. This is just one early example of how women were stocked inside an unsanitary, debilitating jail amongst men, children and criminals that were all lodged together. Starvation, murder and rape were just a few of the ghastly incidents that beheld the women prisoners of this period. -
Elizabeth Fry
Elizabeth Fry, a Quaker reformer, started the Association for the Improvement of Female Prisoners in Newgate Prison. Based in Great Britain and Europe, Fry made many changes and even donated and clothed women inmates. At this time prisons did not provide clothing. Over 300 women and children were being housed in two cells and were being made to sleep without bedding or have clothing on. Fry's reforms paved the way across an ocean for prison reform for woman to make an impact. -
Newgate prison closing
When the Newgate prison closed in 1820s all inmates were transferred. This prison housed both men and women, although they were housed in separate sanctions of the prison. This prison was referred to as "hell on earth". At closing, the men were sent to the Auburn prison and the women were tranferred to Bellevue Penitentiary in New York City. -
The Sing-Sing Prison
The opening of the Sing Sing Prison ,in New York, in 1844, marked the milestone for the first prison to house the women separately from the men. Previously, men and women were housed together. With the rise of this prison, at the hand of prison slavery, became a lucrative point that helped women inmates and women reformers try to help and rescue the female inmates from starvation, rape at the hands of male guards, abuse and torture. -
Women's Prison Association
The Women's Prison Association was founded in 1845 and is currently still in tact. This group contains those that are advocates committed to ensuring proper treatment for female inmates. They supported a mandate for female matrons in female prison to protect inmates and also urged the creation of seperate prisons for women. -
Women's Reformatories
The women's reformatory movement lasted until 1935. During this time 21 institutions were created and modeled on home and domestic environments. Because women were seen as less violent, they were less restrained and watched over by a "motherly matron" instead of a guard. These prison's focused on teaching domestic duties to female inmates so they may reclaim their role after their prison sentence. -
Period: to
Rhonda Coffin (1826-1909)
Rhonda Coffin continued through this time period to fight for womens rights in all aspects, including prison reform for women. Her life was based on contributions to others and helping the poor and undereducated people with a focus on women's rights. After learning about the abuse that was being endured by women in prison, she made it an internal mission to fight for the women who could not fight for themselves. -
Indiana Women's Prison
The Indiana Women's Prison was the first prison built in the United States that house women offenders completely seperate from men. This prison was located one mile east of downtown Indianapolis. This was also the first site which included a maximum security facility for women in the nation. This was an important milestone in protecting women and rights. -
1964 Civil Rights Act
Equal protection to all people was given under the laws of the Fourteenth Amendment. Women's rights in all areas were examined. Protection for all women was needed. Because of this Act, women were able to start working inside prisons directly with women offenders, which was safer for women offenders, as they previously endured abuse, degradation and even rape by male guards. -
Period: to
Profile of women in prison
Over half of imprisoned women were sexually abused, had a parent in prison, grew up in a single parent home and 80% of female inmates are mothers. Female inmates also were statistically higher for drug convictions, worked for poverty wages and many had never even had a checking account or drivers license. -
Period: to
Annual rate of change in prison inmate statistics
The median annual change in prison populations between 1980 and 2004. These statistics show the amount of women in prison and it enables a comparison between the female and male prison population. -
The Achieving Baby Care Success Program
This program was founded in Ohio in 2001. It is a program in which pregnant inmates give birth and actually keep their children in the prison with them. A special wing of the prison has been devoted to this program. At its founding only twelve mothers were able to participate. The goal is to creation bonding for the mother and child, but also teach the mother positive and proper mothering skills. -
The number of women in prison
2.5 million people are currently incarcerated, of these, the actual number of women in prison is 105,000. This number was given by a study that was completed by the Institute on Women and Criminal Justice. From 1977-2005 the prison population for women has risen 757 percent. -
Women prisoner statistics
24 percent of women inmates are serving sentences for drug offences. 75% of the inmates used illegal drugs and 40% drank alcohol that exceeded the legal limits. 52% of inmates surveyed stated that they had used crack, cocaine or heroin within four weeks prior to being arrested. -
ACLU
The ACLU stands for American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU was created to insure the health, safety and to protect women that are currently incarcerated. Fairness and equality are at the top of their agenda for women's rights. The ACLU also facilitates successful reentry back into society for female inmates after their sentences are over. It was founded in 1920 and is currently one of the biggest women's rights organizations.
