PRISON SYSTEM IN AMERICA

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25180, 10 May 1947, Page 2

PRISON SYSTEM IN AMERICA

TRAINING OF POLICE An opportunity to study the latest developments in the American prison system was taken by Miss Joan Rattray when she attended an International Women’s Conference in ffie United States recently. Miss Rattray outlined some of her observations when she spoke yesterday at a women’s meeting convened by the Christchurch branch of the Nationai Council of Women. Miss Rattray said she had been particularly interested in the training of personnel in the police force. In some of the western cities almost all the applicants had to have a college education, she said. Some of the younger members of the police force were often trained especially for youth activity work, and club work. About 100 persons in Seattle were being trained for this work. They were men and women of personality and education, Miss Rattray said. This system was one which we could well follow in New Zealand, she thought In an establishment which she had visited in Western Virginia where there were women serving life sentences as well as shorter terms, the prison was like a small. village and operated on the cottage system. There was not a lock or key in the whole building where the inmates lived. “It has been found that where the lock and key system has been eliminated the results have been wonderful,” the speaker continued. “Fewer people try to break away from these institutions then under the old system.’’ Any training which a girl wished to take could, be given at this institution, so that girls could go out trained to take up work in the world. One of the first things which institutions such as this tried to do was develop in the girls a sense of self respect. To help towards this, these institutions had their own beauty parlour.