TREATMENT OF FEMALE PRISONERS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14956, 1 May 1914, Page 8

TREATMENT OF FEMALE PRISONERS.

NEW SYSTEAi IN AAIERICA

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) SAN FRANCISCO, April 1. Typical of the new spirit in America relative to the treatment of prisoners is the plan just adopted by the authorities of New York for the erection of the so-called '•'skyscraper jail" for women. Officially it is not to be known as a jail, but as a "homo of detention for women." Actually, it will more closely resemble a hospital than a jail. The structure will be sixteen stories in height. Its purpose is to revolutionise the present haphazard and harmful method of treating female prisoners in New York City, and Dr. Katherine B. Davis, a noted sociologist, who has recently been appointed Commissioner of Correction in New York, states that it will be the most adequate and up-to-date institution of the kind in existence. The basic idea of the system to be enforced in tho conduct of the establishment is reform, rather than punishment. Tho inmates will occupy "rooms," not "cells." When being taken from the "home" to Court for Eroceedings before the judges, they will o screened from the publicity which is a great defect of the existing system. The riresent accommodation for women prisoners in New York present almost modireva! horrors. Rows of cells aro concentrated at the centre of the building, separated from the outer walls, and thus from light and air. This plan camo from a desiro to make escape and any connexion with the streets impossible. It has been completely reversed by those who have planned the new women's jail. Every "cell" is at some time of the day flooded with sunlight, the detention part of the building being built about a largo recessed court, open to the south. On either side of this court the buildings aro placed, each one with its own window. The rooms are arranged in two sections on each floor. Thus it is possible to classify the women within groups of twelve, one group all shoplifters, for instance, one group old offenders. About 6 by 10 feet, each room is to havo a bed", chair, and its own complete plumbing, modern lighting, modern ventilation, and modern heating. In the jail now used for women two are crowded into cells smaller than those to be built for single inmates in the detention home. There are other proposed improvements almost as important. Aledical examination of women in groups is to be eliminated. Each inmate will havo mdi Aidual attention. On the roof is to be a small observation ward and hospital for contagious diseases. Thoso with contagious diseases will be completely isolated from the rest. They will have their own separate dining rooms separate dishes, separate supervisors. The commingling of the healthy and the diseased is ono of the blots on the management of some of America's largest prisons.